Good choices

Southeast Missourian reporter Emily Priddy recently looked at the state's methamphetamine numbers. In 2012, there were 11,210 clandestine methamphetamine lab incidents across the country. More than 16 percent of the incidents were in Missouri.

In the story, a former meth addict talked about his encounter with the drug and how it wrecked his life. Thankfully, he's now sober.

Choices have consequences, and while we like to hear stories of people making a life change, becoming sober and leading productive lives, it's important that young people know the importance of making good decisions. You don't have to follow a destructive path.

This was essentially the message former professional football player Tim Lester shared with students and others in the area this month when he spent several days here with Sports World Ministries. The ministry's tagline is: You're not born a winner, you're not born a loser, you're born a chooser.

Lester's story is largely faith-based. He's not shy about sharing how God changed his life, and we appreciate this message of hope and healing.

Many young people see professional athletes as role models. It's important for the students to hear messages like this from those who have a platform to share.

Some of the things students face are quite troubling. It's our hope that messages like the one Lester delivered inspire others to make better choices and avoid unnecessary heartache in the future.