It is easy to slip into a self pity mentality. I can subconsciously begin to list why I have it hard or why I don't have enough. Then I look at other people and realize how blessed I am. My problems and situations in comparison to their problems and situations seem so little. It's all about perspective.
I have had many encounters that have challenged my view of life in general. Then one day I had an encounter that gave me a completely new outlook on life. It shook my world and made me think about what really mattered.
Why are we here? When we pass away from earth where are we going? Is this (insert anything here) eternal? These may (or may not) seem like obvious questions but if we really lived with those questions in mind, I really believe we would act, talk, respond and live so much differently.
I know this may sound so simple but this is a situation I daily dealt with that I had to completely rethink...I share a room with my most amazing younger sister. We are complete opposites (I think God might be preparing me for marriage). Anyways, when I prefer for the room to be clean, she is perfectly fine with her "stuff" being strewn across the room (floor, dresser, bed, etc.). If I am sitting quietly reading a book, she is in her own world playing guitar and writing music. At one point I did not think she was the most amazing younger sister. I was easily irritated and annoyed with her disrespecting me (in reality I was the one not being respectful of her personality).
After years of being forced to share a room and sincerely asking God to renew my sister and I's relationship, I began to realize what mattered. In the long run, is it going to matter that my room was perfectly clean, or that I really cared for her and showed her that through having grace and ALWAYS choosing to love her?
Although my sister and I played together as little kids and enjoyed doing that, we did not choose to love when it was hard. God worked so much in our hearts, but we were willing and wanting. We still share a room and still get frustrated with each other but we understand each other more and continually ask God for grace. The relationship she and I have now is not something I would trade for anything. We talk about everything. We share the same friends. And we do most things together. She is so very special and I admire her for her carefree, easy-going, love-life yet passionate character.
This is what God used to teach me perspective. When I walk into my recently cleaned room to find a mess, He just has to ask me the question, "Is this eternal?" It has not changed the fact that I prefer my stuff to be organized and clean, but I have loosened up so much. It is not worth getting upset about or ruining a relationship.
This pertains to multiple situations in life. Everyday I have to ask myself "Is this eternal?" After answering that question , my whole view is changed. God has worked in my heart so much and taught me how to just love Him and love others.
I make mistakes, but God's grace still abounds. So next time something starts to irritate you, ask yourself "Is this eternal?" God will show the best way to handle it.
Luke 21:33
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."
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