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This morning Facebook reminded me of a post from 2013. I loved Mr. Rogers as did many of you. Here is an edited version of the original post ….

I first discovered Mister Rogers when I had my first born. She was born the summer of 1981. I am not sure exactly when the TV began turning to WGBH but one afternoon, when she was fussy beyond words, I discovered him as he came on immediately after Sesame Street. There was something comforting about watching him come home, take off his sneakers and hang up his sweater.

His voice was calming as he talked gently, telling about his days; teaching us all how to live in this world and somehow make it a better place. His visitors, his puppets, and his trolley all became welcomed into our toddler’s home. And mine as well ……

You rarely have time for everything you want in this life, so you need to make choices. And hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you are. (Fred Rogers)

Choice is  “the act of choosing” (as defined by dictionary.com). So the question then becomes …. What are we choosing?

We can choose from any number of possibilities. We can pick by preference (Which will I like better?). We can choose by level of ease or difficulty (Which will be the easiest for me to do, to get, to achieve?). We can choose by ambition (What will get me the farthest in life? Or bring me the largest paycheck? Or make a name for myself?).

Choices can either be disappointing or bring us immeasurable joy. We each make choices every day, and probably multiple times a day. Our lives are a composite of the choices made in our lives.

So back to Mr. Rogers for he brings three things to mind this morning …

  1. We rarely have time for everything. This means that what we do with each day truly does matter. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, NIV). We are here but a short time, let’s make each day count.
  2. You need to make choices. Perhaps the first and most important choice is, “Choose today whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15). This is of our own choosing and personal to each of us. “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (again verse 15).
  3. Choices come from a deep sense of who you are. May each and every choice we make stem from knowing that we are His. “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will”. (Ephesians 1:11, NIV).

Yes, Mr. Rogers taught me a few things about making choices. We all have today, a 24 hour segment of time. Exactly what we do with this day is completely up to each one of us. It is our choice.

Let’s make today count!

 

Today I am joining … Three Word Wednesday and Tell His Story and Coffee For Your Heart .