Don’t allow the third least source of our problems open the door to blame shifting. Blame shifting is the oldest form of mankind’s attempt to explain away wrong behavior.
We learn this from the Genesis 3:8-13 account wherein we read of Adam explaining to God, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
“And the lord said unto the woman, What is this that thou done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”
In all fairness this episode connotes a real problem for people in that other people’s poor choices may impact and ultimately affect them negatively.
Even though other’s poor choices, pardon the expression, slop over on us and could unalterably change our life’s situation this is the third least source of personal problems.
At age 17 I drank my first beer, and for the next 17 years I was an alcoholic. That single act directly affected the lives of six people who were not in my life at that time – my future wife and our five children – not to mention those who were in my life when I was seventeen.
Any person could review the Ten Commandments and see how their choices to dis-obey any one of them adversely affected themselves and others.
Victimization is a real issue, and allotting this as the third least source of our problems is not to demean those who are hurt by other’s poor choices. But because we were/are hurt as a result of this does not give us license to misbehave to any degree.
September 29th Who Is the Primary Source of Our Problems?
2 comments
Interesting thoughts. Yes, one’s poor choices do affect others who may come into our lives at a later time. I have experienced this phenomenon.
Author
Cecelia,
Sorry to hear someone’s poor choices, pardon my realistic expression, slopped over on you. I use this terminology in counseling sessions for impact value. You who have been wounded and/or vitally affected need to be verbally consoled.
Look for my lessons dealing with unresolved anger and unresolved resentments.
We cannot undo what people have done to us; but we can undo what it may still be doing to us.
My prayers are with you, my Sister.
Tom