Tag: George Jones

I’ve never really listened to George Jones. I know his songs, and I read a book written about him and Tammy Wynette many years ago. Back in the days when I read anything I could about people and their lives. They had a love story, not only filled with roses and sunshine, but thorns and stormy days. The same stories we all share. George Jones was an extremely talented songwriter. He was able to tell a story, draw you in, and have you laughing or crying in under five minutes. Wow!

You are probably going to have a lot of posts from me about songs I listen to. Our son gave me a little white box this past Christmas. It sets in my kitchen where I can talk to it, asking about the weather, and recipes I need. It’s a very handy little device, and I’ve become rather attached to it. When it comes to music, all I need to do is tell it what song I want to hear, or what genre. I smile when I think back to the days when we ran miles of stereo wire through the house so we could have a speaker upstairs and get ‘surround’ sound.

This morning, I had bluegrass-type gospel music playing, when this song came on. Choices was not written by George Jones, but it was written about his life. If you know anything about country music, George Jones had a huge impact on it. He also struggled with addiction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP0oQCh_teg

It continually amazes me the way God uses people. Not only their strengths, but their weak areas as well. The men in the Bible given as examples were not sin-free. They murdered, committed adultery, and didn’t always do as instructed by God. Some even turned their backs. Those actions detoured their lives, and there were consequences to pay. We live in the same world today, and we still have choices to make.

Every one of us can think back over our lives, and see something that we should have handled in a different way, maybe a better way. We all live with regrets and guilt. I think that’s why it’s so very important to instill in our children a sense of right and wrong, and to teach them to listen to that little voice of warning when we are headed down a wrong path. There is no shame in re-routing, or admitting we are wrong. There are second chances…usually. The only shames are arrogance, and being unwilling to learn.

This song is bluntly truthful, speaking of the singer’s regrets for not making better decisions with his life. The addictions were more important than family, friends, and talents. Addictions are not only in the forms of alcohol and drugs. They can be anything that keeps us from being the person God designed us to be…the best that we can attain here on this earth. I know what mine are…how about you? I know the areas in my own life that are weak, that lead me to make unwise choices. I do want to listen to that little voice that warns me that I’m headed down a dangerous path. And I want to be courageous enough to stop, and admit I was wrong…that I need to make a better decision.

Because at the end of my life, I don’t want to be singing a song of regrets…about all the should-haves. I want to rejoice that I was courageous, even when it was difficult to be. And if I failed, I found my feet once more and tried again. I do have choices in my life. I have the freedom to make them.