Choosing the Path of Life

From the very beginning of time, people have struggled with jealousy, fear, and anger. The story of Cain and Abel reminds us that the first murder didn’t happen because of some great injustice—it happened because one man let his emotions rule him instead of choosing a higher way.

And the truth is, that struggle has never gone away. Generation after generation, people still lash out when they feel threatened, overlooked, or afraid. We look at someone else’s blessings and forget that we, too, are loved and provided for. We see another’s voice or strength and fear there will be no room left for us. Deep down, most violence grows not from strength but from insecurity.

But here’s the part that matters: we are not powerless in this.

There will always be right and wrong, light and darkness. The path of wrong is often the easier one—it’s quick, emotional, and destructive. The path of right requires more. It asks for courage, thoughtfulness, and a willingness to stand rooted in truth even when storms rage.

Like an oak tree with roots that run deep, a life grounded in compassion, faith, and wisdom cannot be easily shaken. Scripture reminds us: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7–8).

That kind of rootedness doesn’t mean life will be without conflict, but it does mean we can meet conflict without losing ourselves to jealousy, fear, or hate.

Every generation faces the same question: Which path will I choose?

When anger rises, will we pause long enough to breathe and remember the worth of the other person? When fear whispers, will we stand firm and trust that God has not forgotten us? When jealousy stirs, will we remember that there is room enough for all of us to flourish?

The invitation is not just to survive the storms of life, but to grow strong, steady, and deeply rooted. To become like the oak: reaching high, standing firm, and offering shelter to those around us.

Because in the end, love is always stronger than hate, and compassion has always been the path of life. With love and grace,

Laurie 🌿