Casandra Martin

I’m drooling. The anesthetic that the dentist shot into my mouth is wearing off, but not quite yet. The dental work I had done this morning has a long history. When I was about 10 years old, I went through a phase when I decided to test the conventional necessity of daily brushing. I have definitely seen the light, but in the meantime, I have a few fillings to show for my foolishness and unwillingness to listen to my parents.

Today’s dental work is the direct result of those childish decisions many years ago. The filling I received back then had worn away and impacted the tooth in which it rested for so many years. While the dentist drilled, scraped, filled, and prodded, I thought about how an in-the-moment decision made years ago is still impacting my life.

Most of the time, we tend to believe that the choices we make are contained within the lines of the box that define this day on the calendar. We want to hang on to the idea that the world sells us that our decisions are ours alone and only affect us in the moment. The truth is that what we choose today has a ripple effect that can sometimes be felt years, even decades, later.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be mindful of my impact. The choices I make, even about little things, can have a profound effect later. The good news is that there is good news in that truth. What is true for negative, disobedient choices is also true for positive, surrendered choices. Deciding today to listen to Jesus, follow His way, and live in His purpose will not only shape this day, but has the power to touch the substance of my tomorrows.