Craig Clouston

Decisions Decisions

Good and upright is the Lord…He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Psalm 25:8, 9

Kelsey’s face was smushed against the front of the case, her hands shrouding her eyes to cut the glare of the sun on the glass. She’d been poised in this position for more than two minutes. Every once in a while she’d shift her line of sight, but never too far from the candied licorice directly in front of her. That was her favorite!

The clerk grinned, glancing at the youngster every now and then. She knew Kelsey would make a decision in due time, this had become a routine of sorts. Every Friday afternoon, Kelsey, armed with a quarter, would traipse into the store and head directly to the penny-candy counter. The all-glass case allowed an unrestricted view of the sixty-eight different varieties of sweet delight just the other side of the glass.

Kelsey would toil over which candy to buy but would eventually settle on her usual: six pieces of layered licorice coated in coconut, and as many jellybeans as the remaining money would buy, followed by the same remark, “There’s too many choices! I just can’t make up my mind! I’d really like to try something different but I don’t know if I’d like it."

“How about I give you a piece of something different for free, just so you can try it…?” the clerk offered.

Kelsey’s eyes lit up, “Really? You’d gimme a freebie?”

“Sure Honey. Then you’ll know if you want to choose something different next time.”

†

Give a child too many choices and they have a hard time making a decision; many times, when overwhelmed with options, they make the wrong choice. Understandably, children need guidance to make good choices.

This is true with adults as well. And given the myriad temptations society provides nowadays it’s difficult for anyone to make good choices all the time. We need help, and God offers free guidance if we will humble ourselves enough to ask.

Prayer

“God, I need Your help today. Show me the right path to take and teach me to make the correct choices as I navigate my way through life. In Jesus’ Name, amen!”