Harmful Ripples

The decisions we make and the way we live our lives have a huge impact on our own lives and happiness but also on the lives of those around us, those on whom we have an impact.  That can be a great number of people. While I don't think that we should necessarily allow others have a negative influence on us and we should not use others as an excuse for our own state they do. As this is true, others will have an influence on us, both positive and negative we need to evaluate ourselves and see how we affect others. We need to judge our own actions, attitudes, our words and how we choose to live our lives so that we are not a burden a negative influence or hindrance on others.

Even actions which are not meant to be harmful can still have negative consequences or influence on the world around us. Those things which are not necessarily harmful but selfish and even inappropriate always have a negative impact even if they are not harmful in and of themselves. This is a lesson I have been forced to learn.

The harm caused has a rippling effect unless it is realized and stopped first at the source and then dealt with  at each individual ripple that has been directly influenced by the stone that was cast. On cannot take back the stone thrown into a pond and if the sin is not dealt with the ripples can turn into waves that will envelope ones life and those who are in the path of its destructive power. Such a tsunami can destroy quickly if it is not dealt with before the waves rise.

If it is too late to stop the damage it is still our responsibility  to  deal with the aftermath and take responsibility for our actions and help repair the damage if we are able. Sometimes we can not repair what we have done and that is our penalty for our sin, for the wrong we have done to others. It is also a penalty a consequence that is paid by those who have been  affected by us.

We do not pay the price by ourselves. Those we love who are around us pay for our sins as well. This also is the price we pay. Knowing that we have caused pain in others that we can not take change. Take care in your decisions for we do not know who else we will hurt by our decisions, by how we live our lives.

God please forgive me and I pray that those in whom I have caused pain and harm forgive me one day.