The teenage couple I wrote about in my last blog has been found. They drove north across the country, and somehow got over the border into Canada. They say they wanted to be together and intended to live off the land. Someone became suspicious of a truck with Texas license plates and called police. The license plate matched the missing children report. Perhaps it was one of you who noticed and called it in. If so, I thank you.

The ten days that they were gone made me think a lot about how decisions have far reaching consequences. This 14-year-old girl has changed her life forever. Her friends will view her differently, and it will be a long time before her parents will trust her again. The 17-year-old boy was a high school senior who may have put his graduation in jeopardy. When they planned this escapade, it probably sounded to them like a really good idea, but it was a really bad decision.

My son, the physical therapist, says that a high percentage of the patients he saw during his internships, were not innocent victims of an accident. Most were reaping the results of a lifetime of bad decisions about their bodies. They ate junk food, didn’t exercise, gained too much weight, and damaged their joints.

Most of the time I make good decisions about what I eat, but one day this week I made two bad decisions back to back. I felt terrible afterwards, and wondered why I had indulged in something that gave momentary pleasure followed by longer lasting regret.

Every day I make decisions that affect me and the people around me. Will I drive defensively or aggressively? Will I be friendly or think only of myself? Will I make time to exercise or stay too long at the computer? Will I be diligent in my work or will I be lazy? Will I help others, or will I be demanding?

Most of what happens to us is not good or bad luck, it is the result of good or bad decisions. The most important decisions of all involve how I relate to God. Will I trust my own good works, or will I accept the free gift of salvation?

Think today about how your decisions are affecting your health, your happiness, and your eternal future.