Maybe it was Your Fault

Ezekiel 34:16 - I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

Have you suffered an injury and thought, “If only I’d been paying more attention to what I was doing?”
 

• Maybe you wouldn’t have been injured if you’d been paying more attention.
• Maybe you wouldn’t have been injured if someone else hadn’t cut you off in traffic.
• Maybe it was your fault. Maybe it wasn’t.

 
Maybe, maybe, maybe …
 
You can examine every detail over and over, but to keep focusing on what you might have been able to do doesn’t change what happened. There is something you can do, though – be more aware of your surroundings and what you are doing.
 

1. Driving can be one of the top ways of getting hurt so, keep your eyes roving from one side of the road to the other, in front and behind you. Use your mirrors.
2. Keep a watch on your speed. If you drive ten miles per hour over the speed limit, it may help you get to your destination faster, but at what cost? Plus, you’ll probably only get there five minutes sooner.
3. Don’t use your cell phone to talk or text while driving. It used to be that eating was the number one way of getting distracted and causing an accident, but not any more.
4. If you see brake lights ahead and the traffic suddenly slowing down, make sure you leave enough distance between your car and the one in front of you.

 
These four ways are known to most people, but what about watching your surroundings to help you stay well and free of accidents?
 

1. Pay attention to the weather, so that you’ll know how to dress to stay warm when it’s cold and cooler when it’s hot outside.
2. Pay attention to how long you are out in the elements and make sure you drink lots of fluids.
3. Make sure to get lots of rest, so that your immune system has an opportunity to recharge every night.
4. If you see someone who is coughing and looks sick, steer around them if you can at your local grocery store.
5. At home, make sure that electric cords are out of the way, and keep a look out for other obstacles like curled rugs or scattered children’s toys.
6. When cooking, don’t guess that your frying pan handle will be only warm and not hot. Assume any cookware is hot and use potholders or gloves.

 
As you read through the list you may have found ways that you’re not being careful, which could mean, that it was your fault when you got hurt or sick recently. Try not to be too hard on yourself. It’s not too late to learn new ways to prevent accidents. Washingtonnational.com has some tips on prevention in their article, “A Guide to Preventing Accidents at Home and in the Workplace." 
One way is to manage your meds. If you take prescription or over-the-counter drugs ask your doctor and pharmacist about possible side effects, because they can alter your coordination, alertness and judgment. In addition, people of all ages are injured or die from falls. Be sure to check your vision regularly. Poor eyesight can lead to a fall.
 
Being more aware can make it less likely that you are injured or become sick and will help you see that not all of these circumstances are your fault. Be sure that God will bind up any injury you’ve experienced, and will strengthen you when you are sick. Also, remember that he’s not as judgmental and hard on us as we are on ourselves. I guarantee that he is a merciful God and will be with us no matter what.

Learn more