There’s a Snickers commercial from the 2000 election that makes me laugh even now when I think about it. This guy goes into a voting booth and before he can vote he is visited by an elephant and a donkey, each of whom wants the guy's vote. As the commercial goes on, the guy decides to have a snack because he knows he’ll be a while making his decision. At least it gives the impression that he is really going to think his decision through.My mom is fond of saying, "Life used to be so much simpler when we just had to choose between chocolate and vanilla." We really do have tons of choices. My kids had more choices to make than I did, and their kids will have even more. What's important for us to remember is that whatever choice we make, we are not the only ones affected. We may tell ourselves that, but the truth of the matter is even little decisions have ripple effects.
Several years ago there was a media storm around Charles Barkley of the NBA. He was quoted as saying something along the lines of never wanting to be looked up to as a role model. Someone else jumped into the storm saying that Barkley didn’t have a choice; whether he wanted it or not, whether he liked it or not, he was a role model for kids. Later on, it was reported that what Barkley had said after his first statement was that parents were to be the role models for their kids. But the nugget of truth is there--whether we want it or not, whether we like it or not, whether we ask for it or not, whether we even know it or not--we are role models for someone. Someone else is always affected by our decisions.
I will be praying that I make wise decisions that bring glory and honor to God.
- Sheree Yasko Hill
