Good Choice; Bad Choice; My Choice

Making good decisions: Why, sometimes, does it SEEM so much easier than it really is?
When I get up in the morning, immediately I have choices to make. The first one I make often sets the tone for what follows next, or even the tone for the entire day. As I wake in the morning, set my feet on the floor, I need to first mutter a phrase of gratitude to God for giving me a new day to live and breathe. Do I always do this? No. But I try to surround myself with things at home that put me in an "attitude of gratitude."
Do I have the ideal living situation? No. Have I had the ideal living situation for the past 10 years? No. BUT Have I ever been evicted? No. Has God always provided a place for me to lay my head each night, when so often I take it for granted, YES!
On Jauary 9 of this year, I was given a pretty heavy blow regarding my job, a place I had put my heart and soul into for the past 8 1/2 years. I was thrown under the bus by people in whom I had placed complete faith and trust. I was so numb; filled with disbelief, as if it were all so surreal. After I got home that morning, one of the first things I knew I must do was to step away from it all emotionally. I have seen what anger and bitterness, justified or not, has done to some people. I did not want that. My choice. The whole scenario that brought me home that morning was so bazaar, beyond comprehension, even beyond justification, was not worthy of anger or bitterness.
In a wierd sort of way, I actually felt pity and even fearful for my "accusors."  I was confused and bewildered, but not disoriented in any way. Others had gone before me, even from the same instution, whose sudden removal seemed completely unmerited. Now I know how they felt. So many had, willingly or unwillingly, "gag orders" placed on them, so that their stories could never be told. And this "institution" could continue on, smelling like a rose (a very stinky, dead rose, the way I smell it), soothing their own consciences in any way possible. They would wisk me away, hoping any memory of me would soon vaporize, someone else would move in, to take my place, and life would go on.
I was that easily disposable, as a friend and collegue. Their choice-Bad choice.
Truth be told, I had been wanting to exit said institution for 2-3 years prior to this action. The handwriting had slowly appearing on the wall. Jealousy, lies, setups, desperate pleas for loyalty-all to keep this place afloat, financially, institutionally, or any other way necessary.  I had always said,  about this job,"I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to stay. God Himself will have to remove me from here!" 
God knew the impending path I was about to travel, and seemed to say, "You can stay for a while longer, Shelly, but the day may come when I must step in and rescue you from this place, before disaster strikes and you are taken down with it." He DID take me out of there.
Good choice. I willingly left, knowing that God has my life and my plan in His hands, and I never want to be anywhere, except in the center of His Will.
I still do not know where God is taking my life from here, but I have a hunch that it's going to be pretty terrific! My journey has taken me to opportunities that I never dreamed I could experience, and I'm not through yet.
The choices that lie ahead of me, today or next year-well, I don't know what they will be but  hopefully, they will be good.
My husband has faithfully been so supportive through this "low tide" in my timeline; my daughter Erica continues to bloom where she is planted, making amazing strides in here young adult life. I have shared this journey with her in such a way, that she, like myself, does not hate the person; just hate their evil deeds.
Feeling ill will towards someone, because of their unfortunate choices, will get you nowhere.
Find a way to move forward.
You have the ability to make good choices for yourself, so do it!
You and I have been the recipients of the good choices of others, so it's time to "pay it forward."
Find someone today who needs you and a good word or deed from you.
My mom used to say, "If you cast your bread upon the waters, it will surely come back to you." I often wondered what that meant. It didn't seem to make sense. Then I started doing it. It's about paying in forward, with good choices.
And watch what happens!http://www.facebook.com/, twitter@shellbabe2006