The domino effect

Today: 2 Samuel 19-21

Have you ever thought about the different parts of your life--work, family, finances, health--as dominoes? When one "domino" topples over, it often impacts something else. You lose your job and start to eat more chocolate. You have a difficult child and suddenly your marriage starts to struggle. Your credit card debt is so overwhelming that it makes you hate your (modest paying) job.

The tragic thing about "the domino effect?" It could be stopped in an instant. Our lives aren't comprised of dominoes. I believe that they're a combination of decisions and destiny. Often, if you choose to recognize the value of something, it can be restored.

David learned that lesson in today's passage. After David's army conquered his enemy--led by David's son Absalom who died in battle--David was distraught. Let's review:

Joab was told that David was weeping and lamenting over Absalom.
The day's victory turned into a day of mourning
as word passed through the army,
"David is grieving over his son."
The army straggled back to the city that day demoralized, dragging their tails.
And the king held his face in his hands and lamented loudly,
O my son Absalom, Absalom my dear, dear son!
But in private Joab rebuked the king:
"Now you've done it—knocked the wind out of your loyal servants
who have just saved your life,
to say nothing of the lives of your sons and daughters, wives and concubines.
What is this—loving those who hate you and hating those who love you?
Your actions give a clear message: officers and soldiers mean nothing to you.
You know that if Absalom were alive right now, we'd all be dead—
would that make you happy?
Get hold of yourself; get out there and put some heart into your servants!
I swear to God that if you don't go to them they'll desert;
not a soldier will be left here by nightfall.
And that will be the worst thing that has happened yet."

Luckily for David, Joab brought him back to reality. It was appropriate for David to mourn his son. But to neglect honor for the soldiers who saved the rest of his family? Not a good idea.

Sometimes, like David, we forget to see the good things in our lives while we're in the trenches of a crisis--the dominoes that hold us up, if you will. Thankfully, one of those pillars of strength is God Himself--always there, even though we don't see Him or remember to honor Him.

If you've experienced the domino effect in your life lately, choose to clean up the mess through recognition, gratitude and honor.

Tomorrow: 2 Samuel 22-24