My daughter and I had been texting back and forth about details to pick up my granddaughter when I received another text: “You’re fired.” Kassi has a great sense of humor, so I knew it was in jest. After all, she can’t live without me, but seriously, I wondered: What brought about me being fired? I had to know, so I dialed her number.

Our 7-year-old granddaughter Irene had gotten very good at reading. As Kassi was driving down the road with her, a colorful sign caught Irene’s eye and she spouted, “That’s where Nanny took me.” Kassi asked for clarification to which Irene stated, quite confidently, “Nanny took me to Moe’s Smoke Shop.” Kassi looked incredulously at Irene and stated, “Nanny wouldn’t take you there.” However, Irene stuck to her story, assuring her mother that yes indeed, it had been a special outing for the two of us. Who knows? Perhaps the sign reminded her of somewhere we’d been, but hearing this, I busted out laughing. Yep, the likelihood of me going to said shop, let alone taking my granddaughter there was miniscule. I’m sure it’s a nice store but, I don’t smoke so there wouldn’t be much point. Growing up in an era when many adults smoked, I decided it wasn’t for me. No judgment for those who do. It was simply a choice I made early on.

The idea of taking Irene to that shop made me ponder our choices in life. We make simple, complex, mindless, and monumental decisions every day. What to eat, where to go, whether to be joyful or grumpy, where to work, which road to drive, and on and on. Choices are intentional, for even when we avoid making a decision, it is still a choice.

God honors choices. He intentionally gave us free will. He could have forced us to love Him, but that’s not really love. That’s obligation. God, on the other hand, is all about love. In fact, He loves us so much that he made sure we actually had a choice. By sending His own Son to die in our place, we were given a choice as to where we’d spend eternity. We could choose to accept His gift and be blessed with eternal, joyous existence in heaven with our loving Father and Creator, or we can reject His gift and live in unending persecution in the lake of fire, separated from any goodness, peace or love.

The NIV translation of 2 Peter 3:9 declares: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 1 Timothy 2:3-7 verifies: “This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”

As I consider the places that I can go, or not go, with my children and grandchildren, the place I MOST want them to go with me is to heaven. I love them so much that I can’t imagine eternity without them. God feels the same way about you, His precious creation. He is patiently waiting for ALL to choose Him. When your time here on earth is over, your new life will begin and you alone have the power to decide where that new life will be. Choose well.