A Rant Over Choice

“We have no choice.”

I read the words and then I went back and read the word a couple of more times. I had to be missing something. This man – one that holds one of the highest political offices in one of the most powerful countries in the world – had just confessed that what he did was outside of his choice.

UGH! WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

I had to turn off my computer at that point. This idea that a person has no choice is a huge pet peeve of mine. My instincts told me that the next few hours would be eaten up with more research into this person so that I could find a way to explain to him just how wrong he is about this idea.

WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

My children have used this before and sometimes they still try to use this. It comes up a lot when there has been a fight or other issue between brothers. “But Mom, he didn’t give me a choice. I had to do it.”

“You always have a choice.” I remind them.

Because, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE. No matter who you are. No matter where you are. No matter what you are facing. You have a choice – you can go left or right or up or down or yes or no. There is a choice to be made and even doing nothing is still a choice.

Let me also set the record straight. Every choice made (or not made) involves results – some would be considered consequences and some would be considered blessings. When my children make the choice to do something they know not to do, the consequences are the results from the choice.

This man – sitting in a powerful position and getting paid by me to sit there – HAS A CHOICE. What he should have said was that he was choosing to do what he wanted to do because it would be easier and less likely to cause him pain in the long run. He made the choice he did because he refused to face the results of another choice. No matter the reasons, he made his choice and he should be bold enough or strong enough to stand in that choice. IT WAS HIS CHOICE.

The biggest problem I see in this world around me is that people refuse to take responsibility. I got stopped by the police so it must be the fault of the police. I was fired from my job so it was the fault of my boss. I got a bad grade on paper so it is the fault of the teacher.

Stop me now – I am spiraling down into the rabbit hole fast. Because I am responsible for everything that happens to me. Yes, sometimes bad people will do things to hurt me. Sometimes stupid people will do things to annoy me. Nine times out of ten, I will have put myself in a place where these things could occur, but even on that one out of ten time, I determine what I will do in the situation.

I have a choice. I have control over me. I determine what I will do, and how I will do, and why I will do.

So for the sake of my sanity, can we remove the phrase from our vocabulary? Thank you. I can sleep easier tonight.

YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE.

Be blessed,