One Decision Away written by Bambi Lynn

June 6, 2024

Every decision we make in our lives is one decision closer to the next. I have thought a lot lately about decisions, how they form who we are, and the lives we live. Some decisions are made in a split second and change the course of our lives forever. Some decisions have been calculated, and still the same outcome, of the impact it will make on our lives. There is no decision without consequences, whether good or bad. decisions are a domino effect to the next.

Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.” – ...
“When making a decision of minor importance, I have always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons.” – ...
“Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision right.” –

The one greatest decision I made was in 1986, I write about it in my book, The Journey of Josephine. I found myself in such a desperate state that all I could think about was ending it all by taking my life, jumping off a bridge never to have such pain of despair again. But God.... I was stopped by a police officer and put in his car and driven to a children's center for troubled children. That one act would lead to me learning that I was a pregnant teenager needing an intervention from the only one who could save me. As I put my hands up to surrender my life to God for him to save me and my baby. That one decision on that day began a domino effect of six beautiful children and at this time thirteen grandchildren and counting. That one decision was thirty-seven years ago, and I never looked back and thought that decision was wrong but, the best bravest decision I have made.

"Almost any decision is better than no decision at all". "It's better to be boldly decisive and risk being wrong than to agonize at length and be right too late". "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing".

I think back at a decision I made in 1992 that change my life for the next twenty-seven years. That was homeschooling my children. I look back to all those years with the fondest heart. Nothing was perfect and I made many mistakes. but giving up was not one of them. I knew that God told me to homeschool my children. A concept I knew nothing about. I was a GED tenth grade education woman with a dream and a desire to give my children fond memories and a happy educating life. I loved the planning and the discovery. I enjoyed the reading time with each one of them and the moments when "they got it" Homeschooling was the only steady thing in my life. With so much brokenness and pain this kept me sane in many ways. Homeschooling my children gave me purpose amongst the shambles of my life. Each one of my children have a different view about being homeschooled but, like one of my children asked, "Did you do what God told you to do?" that answer would be yes, and the rest is history. Homeschooling was a treasure to me and a decision that was worth the sacrifice.

Decision is a sharp knife that cuts clean and straight; indecision, a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges behind it.”– Gordon Graham
“Every decision you make reflects your evaluation of who you are.”– Marianne Williamson
“Decision making is easy when your values are clear.”– Roy Disney

A decision I made landed me in jail for the night. One evening my ex-husband and my twins and I went to visit my exes' parents. That wasn't unusual because we were there often. It wasn't even unusual that we were fighting. It was getting late and time to get my sons to bed as they had fallen asleep on the couch. I was carrying each one of them to car, which was parked on the side of the road. I put the first twin in the car, started it, and went to get the next one. Then I went back to see if my ex-husband was coming. When I went outside there was a police officer there staring into my car where my twins were sound to sleep, the police officer asked me whose car this was, and I told him mine and that I was just leaving. He asked me why I left them alone with the car on? I told him I was just running to see if my ex was coming. The police officer didn't like my answer and hand cuffed me and threw me into the back of the car. he was mumbling how unfit I was, and he was taking me to the police station and arresting me for endangering the welfare of a child. I couldn't move. I was in shock when I was put into a jail cell for the night. The next morning the judge released me but, I was traumatized forever. I tell the full account in my book. But, that one decision cost me and taught me something about myself and who loved me and who didn't

“We are our decisions.”– Prof.Salam Al Shereida
“Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.”– Paul Tillic

One phone call with a friend and I was making arrangements for my daughter and myself to go skydiving, when I was going to a banquet for the top 5% performers in the company, that I worked for. One decision got me on a small plane harnessed to a tandem and pushed out of a plane at 13,000 feet above the sky. One decision I am glad I made but, one decision I only needed to make once. Each decision we make leaves with consequences, good or bad. This one left me on the ground feeling sick to my stomach and thinking that was one of the stupidest things I have ever done, but a memory of a lifetime with my daughter and myself, that only the two of us share.

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"

Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding"
James 1:5

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him"

There are some decisions that you make, that you might regret. I have made many of them. God can still take those decisions and turn them around for good. If I believe that God orders my steps, Is any decision wrong? We live with so much regret in some of our decisions, then we look back and we see the hand of God written all over it. During the pandemic I listen to my children in selling my house and moving down south. I went back and forth with that decision and one day I just said, I had enough and started the ball rolling of selling 95% of my stuff and my house and moved to the South, I didn't feel the impact of my decision until my company dissolved my position on my travel team. I didn't know how alone I was until I wasn't traveling anymore and had no friends or tribe to be part of, I was alone and struggling with that. Every night I would pray, that this be the day that heavens gates would be opened to me. Until one decision would change that forever. I decided to go to a library author function where I met one lady that would lead me to others. I made a choice to be part of a community that would become my lifeline. I needed a life jacket to save me from drowning. This choice gave me eighteen women at a tea party celebrating the launch of my second book, The treasures of my heart. That one decision has spiraled out to other friendships that have help heal a broken soul.

I choose to write because it's perfect for me. It's an escape, a place I can go to hide. It's a friend, when I feel out casted from everyone else. It's a journal, when the only story I can tell is my own.

"You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children."
--Madeleine L'Engle

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect."
--Anaïs Nin

"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." Toni Morrison

I am not sure if writing my book was a decision or a longing that gave me no choice but, to write. I just knew that it was time and the words turned into sentences, then feelings that needed to be expressed and a desire to help heal the broken with telling my story. I look back over the moments that brought me here, my own website writing to give hope to the broken and I realize becoming an author was an amazing decision ever. It has opened up doors to hear other's stories, my story has created a tribe of women that are becoming by letting go of the past and trauma and learning to see themselves the way they were always supposed to, A hero in their reflection. My story helped others to see they were not alone, and no secret is worth keeping anymore. it's time to let go and heal their souls. My book has started conversations and has shown us, we are not alone in this journey. My story showed it is okay to be vulnerable and that the past can't hurt us anymore. I made a decision to let the world in on my secrets of pain, trauma, and brokenness, then introduced them to my healer who set me free. I made a decision to make a dream come true and see, How Big is the fathers heart? I am learning with that one Decision in writing, The Journey of Josephine and then, The Treasures of My Heart, my audience has been waiting for someone to live their best life and bring it to them to do the same.

There is not one person on earth that hasn't made a decision. Years ago, I watched a movie called, The Butterfly Effect. This movie was changing the decisions in their lives, well when we change everything, we get a new set of problems or obstacles. We all are guilty of the What ifs in life. Where we ask, what if I did this instead of that? Once a decision is made and then orchestrated, we can't turn back. We must live with that choice. Some of our decisions are small ones, Should I get a dog, should I have pizza or grill cheese, what restaurant I should eat at. To the big decisions, Should I marry this guy, where do I live, should we have children now, Should I quit my job. The lists go on and on. Ultimately the decision is yours to make and nobody Elses. Enjoy the journey of decisions. Just make them and, live them out. Enjoy the domino effect of decisions and watch the process unfold before your eyes.

Even Jesus Had to make a decision. His decision cost him. But it also gave me life.

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