The Blame Game

Well now, let's talk about the "Blame Game."  It has been around since the beginning of time.  Remember the account of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, with the Serpent (Satan)?  Yep, that sneaky snake managed to convince Eve that God was just messin' with them when he told them not to eat the fruit from the tree in the center of the garden.  And we all know what happened next.  Eve ate the fruit, she convinced Adam to eat the fruit and they got caught with their "pants down."  And here begins the first "blame game."  Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent.  And they had to pay dearly for the consequences of their decision.  If they had listened to God they would have had it made in the shade for eternity.  

Side note.  We've all heard the saying "made in the shade."  I'm always curious.  So I took time to look up the origin.  One source said there used to be an old saying about lemonade, "Made in the shade, stirred with a spade and good enough for any old maid."  I thought I would throw that one in for free.  (Smiling)

Oh! By the way, all of this could have been avoided if Adam and Eve would have had a hoe in the garden.  All good gardeners have a hoe ready.  Had I been Eve the serpent would not have hung around long enough to speak.  Just sayin' - I don't care much for snakes. I know there are good ones to have around the garden.  I just don't want to play inspector long enough to find out if it the good kind or not.  I know some of you are probably snake lovers, so don't hate me.  And I'm just messin' around with you a little bit.  I know they had no need of a hoe in the Garden of Eden.  But they were sure going to need one after the choices they made.  Their choices didn't affect just them, but all of mankind. 

We can really get ourselves in some messes, can't we?  And so often, when we finally figure out we're in one, we decide to play the "blame game."  Why do we find it so necessary to blame our situation or problems on someone else?  I'm not sure, but I'm guessing pride, ego, and selfishness would be at the top of the list of reasons. And how do we get ourselves into these messes?  Oh wait, maybe pride, ego, and selfishness are at the top of that list too.  I'm sure there are lots of other reasons as well.  I think there are times we find ourselves in messes that we really didn't see coming.  But I think quite often, we just make decisions without taking adequate time to think them through and bathe them in prayer, or we make a decision thinking no one will find out, or thinking that our choice isn't going to affect anyone else.  But we know from Adam and Eve's experience that just isn't so.  

I think maybe instead of playing the "blame game" we need to just get real about it.  If we are guilty of getting ourselves in a mess we just need to admit our role in it and then take responsibility for cleaning it up the best we can.  If we have hurt or offended someone we need to ask forgiveness.  God gives us freedom to make our own decisions.  But He does not free us from the consequences of them.  

I've already shared in an earlier post of the danger of making big decisions when we are going through the grieving process.  We just aren't capable of making the best decisions when we've just experienced a significant loss. There will be a time when we are ready to begin making decisions again, and when that time comes I think it is important that we follow some good advice, "If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him..." James 1:5 (TLB).

For you, my friend, I pray that you have a really good day, with light peeking through any clouds that may be in your sky.  Remember, there is

Sunshine After the Storm
Blessings!
Betsy

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom."  Thomas Jefferson