Well, a lot has happened since I wrote part one on this topic. Nonetheless, it’s still a very prevalent
subject in my own personal “civil war”. I’ve
written a great deal on perspective and how we can be our own worst enemy. For years, I’ve said that “growth is gaining
perspective and Christian growth is about gaining God’s perspective.” What would life be like if we could just be Christ-minded; to see what God sees and how He sees…and not just
some of the time.
We are trained to look through the eyes of someone else; always
wondering what they may be seeing or thinking. If we’re not doing that, we’re measuring
things on our own yardstick. When that
happens, not only do others fall short of the mark but so do we. Let’s not even get started on how we see our
circumstances! I’ve certainly cried a river or two while drowning in
self-pity and gasping that, “No one could possibly have as dreadful a life as I
do”!
There are moments that my lack of proper perspective gets interrupted
and I think sensibly and apologetically. I’m humbled by God’s grace that lines me up
and out and does so as He guides me into maturity…even when I’ve behaved in
child-like fashion. That’s a nice way of
saying that I’ve acted like a teenage brat!
Our battleground is in our minds. If we’re not renewing and refreshing them in
God’s Word, then we only have the stale imprint of past failures and a defeatist
attitude making sure we notice them. We can have the world’s outlook, our
outlook, or God’s outlook. The choice
seems simple but isn’t. It takes work
and determination to keep thinking what God says about you and your
circumstances. It’s actually a
compliment when things get tough. God is
saying you’re tough enough to handle it and He’s got you covered; there’s
scripture after scripture that says so but we have to read it to know it! The Bible isn’t a buried treasure but it
sure is a treasure when we’re buried!
It’s easy to know the beginning and the end of something…it’s the “in-between”
that’s the difficult part! That’s the
time we have to trust that when it’s raining, God promised a rainbow. I know it’s trite but in the meantime, I’m
grabbing an umbrella!
A dear friend sent me this poem that I read as a reminder to keep
proper perspective so my attitude will then follow. When you read it, you’ll know why I call this
battle “The War of the Roses”…..
The Sculptor’s Attitude
I woke up early today excited over all I get to
do before the clock strikes midnight.
I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important.
My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is
rainy or…
I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.
Today I can feel sad that I don’t have more
money or…
I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and
guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health or…
I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can lament over all that my parents
didn’t give me when I was growing up or…
I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.
Today I can cry because roses have thorns or…
I can celebrate that thorns have roses.
Today I can mourn my lack of friends or…
I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.
Today I can whine because I have to go to work
or…
I can shout for joy because I have a job to go to.
Today I can complain because I have to do
housework or…
I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and
soul.
Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be
shaped.
And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.
What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will
have!!!
Have a GREAT DAY… unless you have other plans.