Relationship

You can choose your friends but you can't choose your relatives.

You usually hear this statement when something a family member does is shameful or embarrassing. 

Not all of us act just right all the time. I am sure that I probably have embarrassed my family members a time or two.

I remember once while in high school, I was staying the weekend with my cousin. We had permission to go to the football game but not the dance afterward. My aunt was coming to pick us up.

The game was  over early so we walked with our friends over to the dance and just went inside when my aunt showed up in her chenille bathrobe and slippers and pink curlers all through her hair! 

Trust me, at that time I would have very much liked to "unchoose" her.

God gives us the choice whether we want to have a relationship with Him. He wants us and loves us, even in our most shameful and embarrassing moments, even in our awful sinfulness. He hopes for us to choose Him.

He created us, He could have created us without the choice.

Why then, do you think He gave us the option?

I love to see people choose to love The Lord. I encourage people to do just that. But I cannot force anyone to do it. I cannot shame or embarrass anyone into loving God. 

I can only bring the message of God's love to them. It is still and always their choice.

 Choose  for yourselves today whom you will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15 NASB)