Taking Responsibility For Who We Are Today

Recently, my husband ran into a former teacher. He thought about that teacher's impact on his life which made him ponder more deeply about the impact his own life might be having on others today. After returning home, my husband wrote an article about his thoughts concerning the impact his former teacher had on him, how others influence our lives, and how we might influence others.

Something to Think About

In the busy hustle and bustle of my rat race day, I ran into one of my teachers that had a huge impact in what helped shape the person I am today. It was great seeing my former teacher. As the memories rushed through my mind, I went back to my high school days. He taught me things like:

Always be truthful no matter how much it might hurt.

Put forth your best effort at all times.

Always do more than what is expected.

This experience made me stop and think about each of the people God has sprinkled throughout my life, adding wisdom to my life similar to how a cook might add seasoning to meal to enhance the flavor. As I think about all my teachers, football coaches, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins that have had an impact in my life, I have to stop and think about what kind of impact I am having on those around me? What kind of legacy will I leave behind me? Will someone someday stop and ponder about the impact I have had on them? I’m so thankful to God for each of the many blessing that he has placed in my life and I pray that I can make a positive impact on those with whom I come into contact as well.

The flip side of this would be sitting here trying to blame those that touched my life for all the mistakes and wrongs that I have in my life. We all get influences in our lives that are both positive and negative. It’s not the influence that makes the difference but how we each react or respond to those influences. I cannot stress that enough. It’s not my parents fault or anyone else’s fault, for that matter, that I chose to go down a particular path. Those that care for us and those that don’t care all have tried to help encourage us to go one way or another, but in the end it was our decision to choose which direction to take. That makes it our responsibility for the outcome and not anyone in our past. No one forces us to run down the path we choose. We weighed the options and made the decision and now we have to live with the circumstances of those decisions. The minute we stop blaming and take ownership is the minute we can make a change.

We need to keep all this in mind as we run from one place to another or as we “blow our top” while we stand, waiting impatiently in a long line. We need to focus more on the positive and try to have a positive impact on those around us. What kind of impact will you have – positive or negative? Will others look back at their time with you as a blessing or a curse? Will they thank God for their time with you? We each make these decisions each day. We determine whether to be patient or “blow our top,” scream or laugh, be kind or cruel. What will you be today? What impact will your activity today have on the future of those lives God brings into contact with you - and on future “todays”?