Tough Luck or Tough Love: Is There A Difference?

As the cold steel door slammed shut, the jail cell echoed with the resounding memories of lost second chances and bitter decisions of selfishness and betrayal. The boy's thoughts flashed back to that morning as he watched his father hang up the phone, his mother sitting silently beside, grief etched deeply into her face. He knew he deserved it, nonetheless, the pain shot deep into his heart. It didn't take long for the police to arrive, and though he went willingly, the boy fought desperately against his instinct to flee.

As the officer escorted him through the living room, his father's quivering voice called out, "We had no choice, Son, we love you too much."

Back in the isolation of his cell, his father's last words to him reverberated off the cold unfeeling walls. Realization of where he was and the road ahead of him gave rise to fear that he had never known before.

"How could I be so stupid?" was all he could say.

Again, the words rebounded off the prison cell walls that were to become his new home. Sitting alone and in silence, the hopeless boy heard a faint whisper which would change his life forever: "Child, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."

Food for thought:

Have you ever found yourself given over to the bad choices you've made or loved someone enough to allow them to suffer the consequences of their actions? This is a true act of love: releasing those whom you love to that which their heart desires, then waiting patiently as the consequences set in, bringing forth revelation, then understanding. Understanding develops into wisdom until their willingness to be faithful to truth and righteousness comes from a desire within themselves.

#story #trial #choices #tough #luck #love