The Power of Perspective

There are some days it really feels like my brain seems to be firing on all cylinders. Actually, that’s wishful thinking. It’s safer to say most days. OK, maybe just some of them. Then there are other days where I can lose a thought mid sentence and forget my own name all at the same time.

There are some things I’ll never forget though. After being married over three decades, I will never forget our first date….or our first kiss. Or the moment I felt our first baby boy’s skin against mine. I remember watching our daughter learn to walk as a toddler, and again after spinal surgery as a young adult. Or witnessing our youngest son fall in love and marry the love of his life. And saying goodbye to my mom and wishing for one more conversation with her before she met Jesus.

It doesn’t matter if moments are monumental or a random minute in time. There are some things that will be forever etched in our memories. Some of them might bring a little smile to our day. Some of them might remind us of something that caused our heart to break. And not only do we wish you could forget them, we wish they never happened. Some probably lay somewhere in between.

All of these experiences are a part of our story. A story that God wrote and is present in whether we recognize Him in it or not. Sometimes it’s easier to see God, His love and goodness in the sweet memories. But we might wonder where God is in the moments that feel more like a nightmare.

I don’t know what memories make up your story. It would be lovely to be able to share some of them with each other. I’m sure we’d laugh and maybe even solve half the world’s problems together. And I imagine at some point we might cry a little if we share some of our deeper hurts.

Even though we’re not sitting across from each other, one thing I can share with you is this.

I’m learning I need to look for God intentionally in all of the moments. Even in the unimaginable ones. I’m finding when I do, not only do I see Him, I feel more at peace, more accepting and more thankful. And I believe that it puts me on a path to living with more joy.

Psalm 107 is such a good Psalm of perspective. I encourage you to read the whole chapter, but the first verse is a beautiful reminder.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1 CSB

I know it can be challenging to be thankful. We get busy. We forget. We have the hard things that happen and the last thing we feel is gratitude. But if you would allow me to share one more thing with you, I would like to tell you this. God knows all things. He knows your heart. He knows your joy. He knows your hurt. He remembers all of the moments and the ones that are yet to come. No matter what you’ve experienced, when we bring the truth of who God is into it, our frame of mind changes. Because God is good, He is faithful and He loves us forever. I hope you never forget that!