{One Hundred Lessons} Truth + Consequences

One Hundred Lessons is my story. It’s the heart of my experience in motherhood and all the things, well 100 of the things, I want my children to read and remember. These bits are my hope for the future and my cherished memories of the past. Most of all, they are the beautiful moments of today that I never want us to forget.

You can read all the post from the One Hundred Lessons series here.

Hello my littles. Mama is back with another babbling lesson :)

I’m not a scientist. That’s Aunt Kiki’s job. But I do know one thing – every action has a reaction. It’s true in a science and it’s true in life. It’s something I like to call truth and consequences.

Granted, I’m a big believe in grace. You know that. We talk about grace all the time and practice it regularly. I give you grace, you give me grace. Grace is a good, happy, wonderful thing. 

But, yes my dears, there is a but with this. Life is full of truth and consequences. You have the power to make many decision. You get to analyze the situation and decide. Sometimes you’ll make wise choices and the consequences will be super and totally rewarding. Sometimes you’ll make not so wise choices and the consequences could be devastating. 

What I want you to see and hold on to is that YOU have the power. You get to decide. No one else! Right now we practice that with things like sharing and listening to directions. But soon it will become bigger things like conversations with your friends where you can speak and act on truth. It may not always be the popular thing, but that’s ok. Popularity is 100% overrated. Keep perspective. Hover above the situation, settle your emotions and logically think through your decisions. Sometimes the answers will be clear, sometimes vague. Return to the absolute truths you know and believe it – honoring God, loving other, safety for you and those around you. The things that will stretch beyond the current moments.

On occasion the consequences will be out of your control. That’s ok. A new situation will prompt new decisions and once again you will have to power to make a choice. Taking responsibility for your actions grows your character; it refines you. Say you’re wrong. Say sorry … and mean it. Speak the truth. Admit your faults and strive to improve. It’s hard to be vulnerable, but the times I’ve practiced vulnerability have always blessed me. I’m sure it will do the same for you.

My sweet babies, it’s hard for me to imagine you suffering, I hate the thought. But this I do know, when we suffer from inevitable situations, bad consequences and the like – we walk away with stories in our book of life. Those stories are part of us for a reason. Our suffering, our embarrassing moments, our missteps and our mountains of achievement give us tools to aid others. When you go through a situation and come out charred, but whole on the other side you can then turn around and hold hands with others who are a few steps behind you.

It’s a beautiful thing. To let our pain, help heal someone else. Embrace that.