Sandy needed to make a decision — go ahead and cover up her mistake, believing she’d probably get away with it, or confess. The temptation to justify a cover-up pumped adrenalin through her veins.
She jumped when Bob’s voice rang over her shoulder. “Quarterlies, huh.”
Sandy gulped, “Yeah, I hate these things,” meaning it more than usual.
“Glad it’s you and not me.”
“Thanks,” her sarcasm signaled her co-worker it was time to leave.
“I’ll let you get back to it.” Unknowingly, he left Sandy to once again stew over her big mistake.
Sandy could cower in the rut and hide from it, but guilt and fear would drape her work days and smother productivity. She needed freedom, and only the truth could offer a white flag. So she decided to turn from self-preservation and face the problem head-on.
Unbeknownst to her, Sandy was taking the first step of Teshuvah, taking responsibility. When we make the decision to turn from protective measures and risk vulnerability for the sake of making things right, we begin a journey toward freedom.
The T in Teshuvah stands for taking responsibility for something we’ve done that may hurt others, ourselves, or both. Without this necessary action, we could spend the rest of our lives under the shadow of gloomy past choices.
But one small step, casts a glimmer of hope, and offers a fresh start.
Have you buried some past choices hoping the effects would go away, only to find a shroud of guilt and/or fear holds you back? How might you turn back and take responsibility?
Anita Agers-Brooks is a Business Expert, Certified Personality Trainer, Communications Specialist, speaker, and writer. She lives in Missouri.
Contact her via www.freshstartfreshfaith.org or anita.freshfaith@gmail.com
Psalm 34:14 (NIV)
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
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