As the day to day trials and complications of life seem to come at us from all directions, it is easy to lose focus of what is important and allow the frustrations to take over and cloud everything we encounter. Small problems become insurmountable. Our outlooks are blinded by stress and worry and we lose sight of how God is working in our lives. Our perspective of what blessings we truly have is skewed.
Webster defines perspective as the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.
Allowing discouragement to guide our thoughts creates a perspective that thrives on the negative.
Allowing our hearts and thoughts to be guided by a gracious and merciful God, creates a perspective of hope and contentment.
Over the last few months it has been very easy for me to crawl into my pit of despair and whine about Stephen working so many hours. He leaves early in the morning and if we are lucky he is home by 8:00 or 9:00pm. I am fed up with being a single parent. I am tired of having to shuffle schedules because he is not home to help with the carpooling. I am frustrated with having to change plans because he can never leave when he is supposed to. I am aggravated that he is missing so much of the girls' summer.
when I look at the situation with a Godly perspective...
I am so thankful that in this time of economic depression Steve has a job that he can go to every day.
And while I have thrown myself a few dozen pity parties about our lack of finances; stressing about bills and incidentals; pouting because we cannot do the projects around the house that we would like to or buy the 'toys' we want...
perspective changes knowing that God is in control and that all things work for the greater good ...
and I am so thankful that while so many people are losing their homes, we are able to pay our bills.
Life will always have trials. There will always be loved ones who are sick, car problems, loneliness, laundry to wash and fold, parenting doubts and fears, weeds to pull, discouragement from others, dog hair EVERYWHERE.
But, if we change our perspective, we can see how blessed we truly are.
