The sign at Capstone Recovery Center reads in part, “Good choices have good consequences. Bad choices have bad consequences.” Oh, how true!

My cat, Puddy Tat, and I learned this lesson the hard way! Each morning he enjoys a short jaunt outside since he normally spends most of his time within the confines of my house. One morning last week he did not return from his walk. It was after dark when he finally showed up at my back door—bedraggled and dragging his tail behind him.

It was obvious that something was wrong with him, but he hissed if anyone tried to check him out.

Guesses at his problem included snake bite, a UTI, and a broken tail. To my surprise, though, a trip to the vet revealed he had been in a fight, and he needed surgery for an abscess. After an overnight stay in the hospital and a bill for $401, he returned home with a collar to keep him from trying to remove the drain lines from his incision on his backside. He was not a happy boy.

As I reflected on his—and my—situation, I remembered the sign at Capstone where I volunteer each week. Our bad choices frequently do have bad consequences, and they did for us on this particular morning.

I also remembered a large yellow feral cat that lives in a pipe under our road—probably the other fighter—and wondered about his welfare.  Since Puddy is an 18-pound Maine Coon with seven claws on one front foot and six on the other, I can’t help but imagine what his opponent must look like following their wrestling match. Though I haven’t seen him since the encounter, he is apparently still around, for Puddy frequently sits at the front window looking longingly at the outdoors. He doesn’t know it, but it will be some time—if ever—before he goes back outside for a possible follow up bout.

One of the earliest shows I ever watched regularly on television was Truth or Consequences. When contestants could not quickly answer a silly trivia question, they paid the consequences by having to participate in an embarrassing stunt of some sort. It was always very funny for the audience—but humiliating for the participant. That’s how Puddy looks now. Cute and funny to the observer but certainly not pleasant for the cat who finds eating a challenge and grooming himself impossible!

Bob Barker, the last host of the show, would sign off with “Hoping all your consequences are happy ones.”

The only way that could be remotely possible for cats or people would be if we–and those around us–always made good choices. Sadly, I’m not sure that is possible.

As if orchestrated from above just for me and my situation, Pastor Mike’s sermon at Trading Ford Baptist Church this week was on the topic of choices. It was graduate Sunday, and the message was aimed at graduates but was certainly applicable to all of us.

His text was from Deuteronomy 30:19-20:

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.”

Several key points in the message stood out:

1. God has a plan and purpose for our future, but he has given us free will. We can choose whether to follow his plan or our own.
2. Small choices can have a big impact on our lives and our futures.
3. Our choices affect more than ourselves.
4. We need to make good choices now with the end in mind.

Sadly, the children of Israel in the Old Testament made bad choices often—and suffered bad consequences. So did my old cat. So do all human beings.

Now you may be thinking correctly that bad things happen to us sometimes because of the bad choices of those around us rather than our own, and that is true. But we need to think before we act so that we can ensure the best possible outcomes in choices that are within our control.

The Lord has reassured us in his Word that he wants the best for us. And what is our part? To choose wisely!

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

What about you? Made any bad choices that resulted in bad consequences lately? The good news is that it’s not too late. Choose life!

“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3 NLT)

Thanks for reading, responding, and sharing each week. I appreciate your encouragement and support. It is my prayer that we will all make good choices and enjoy good consequences!

PS Capstone Recovery Center is a transition house for women struggling with addiction. As one of the volunteers there each week, we strive to help the residents realize that while their bad choices did have bad consequences, there is hope for recovery through Jesus Christ. To watch lives transformed and families restored is a blessing beyond description. “For with God nothing shall be impossible!”  (Luke 1:37)

If you or someone you know needs such assistance, check out the website at www.capstonerecoverycenter.org and contact Miriam Ramirez, the executive director.