We know that everyone should take responsibility for themselves. People should “own” their actions, whether good or bad. We may look at a person who doesn’t do this and think, “that’s what they get – they should take responsibility.” However, it is important to realize that they are not the only ones who suffer the consequences of their actions.

I work in Human Resources. When an employee doesn’t take responsibility for their assigned duties, then someone else must come along behind them and do the work. I heard an excellent illustration of this principle recently in a sermon by Andy Stanley. He shared that when his children were younger, if they left a towel in the floor, for example, he would call them to take care of it. Now most of us would assume he would ask them to pick up the towel and put it in its proper place. That is not what he did. Instead, he told them to ask him to pick up the towel and say something like, ‘because I was too lazy to do it myself.’ Wow! That certainly got the message across!

Our actions affect others. Period. Whether a coworker, a family member, a leader or an elected government official, what they do changes someone else’s life.

What can you change today that will positively impact someone else? Share in the comments so we can all learn together and live . . . life to the fullest.