The impact of our decisions

We visited the Taj Mahal today and it was absolutely beautiful!! The intricate detail is beyond anything anyone could ever imagine. It's indescribable beauty left me speechless.
                                 

We also visited Fort Agra, a kingdom. 

Both sites were located in Agra, India. The area was very interesting; livestock roamed the streets, 

vehicles drove in both lanes, and different small shops were lined along the road. The community is very poor. Two factories used to run in Agra until the pollution affected the purity of the marble at the Taj Mahal. To decrease pollution and improve the look of the Taj, both factories were closed and driving became limited near the site. This left a lot of people without jobs. Now most people rely on tourism for income. 

History of the Taj Mahal

A king had the mausoleum created for his late queen who passed away during child birth in her late thirties. Total construction lasted 22 years with the work of 20,000 artisans. Due to the extreme cost, the king used all of the kingdoms money on the development and left his people starved. When it was finished he ordered that all the artisans hands be chopped off to guarantee that no other site was built like the Taj. This makes the beautiful site seem sad and dark. Although the site is beautiful, was it worth the sacrifice?

 We often make rash decisions ourselves without thinking of the effect of our decisions on others and the plan that God has for us. The people of Agra are struggling financially to this day, possibly due to a decision made by a King 400 years ago. This should remind us that the decisions we make have the 

 possibility of making an impact, positive/negative. What if the impact we chose to make was Christ-centered? What if we devoted our whole lives to sharing His word?  Think about how different the world would be. With God all things are possible if we trust Him. 

2 Thessalonians 2:14

He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Love,

KellySue