Perspective

Sometimes, distance gives you another perspective that proximity can’t provide. Sometimes, you can’t see the forest for the trees. Sometimes, you can’t see what's right in front of your face. We’ve all been negligent, if we choose to admit it. We’ve all fallen short. We all have not been “100” one hundred percent of the time. And guess what….that’s okay. Sometimes, we need to learn the lesson the “hard way.” Perspective comes when we choose not to look through rose colored glasses. It is when we choose to see ourselves the way God sees us. It’s when we are honest about being broken, bitter, and not better. It is when we see our vulnerabilities, our scars, and see that we survived it all.

Who Cares?

Growing up in the 80’s would make you believe that anything could be solved in a 30 minute episode. There was no problem that required more than that amount of time to resolve unless it was a mini- series or an after-school special. One of my favorite shows was the CareBears. They understood that in order to resolve some issues, you need help. Each of them had a special gift that was tattooed on their belly, and when things got gloomy, they would join hands and do the “care bear stare.”

How many of us suffer in silence? How many of us wear our fake smiles, every day? We put on a show, and people never really know what’s really going on with us. We were not created to do this thing alone. We were not created to suffer in silence. There are people who care about you. There are people who will go out of their way for you. Open up. Let people in. Stop asking, “who cares?”

Cherish

cherish verb

1a: to hold dear : feel or show affection for

b: to keep or cultivate with care and affection : NURTURE

2: to entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely

Life is not promised. Say, “I love you.” Hug a little longer. Call when someone crosses your mind. Say, “goodbye.” Send that text. Do something unexpected. Make a kind gesture. Be affectionate. Forgive. Forget. Let it go. Show the people you love that really cherish them before its too late.

Capacity

When is enough, enough? When are you officially done? When do you decide you can’t take it anymore? Is it when you’ve run out of energy? Is it when you snap? Is it when your body responds? How do you know you are at capacity?

Most of us think that because we are capable, we have capacity. We have to reprogram ourselves. What does your “yes” cost you? Does it take away from your personal time? Does it take away from your family obligations? Is a “yes” necessary at this very moment? Can it wait? Can you delegate?

I am just beginning to realize that I don’t have to do everything. I’m learning that things will eventually get done, just not on my timeline. Those dishes can wait. The laundry will never be completely done. Your to do list never ends, and guess what? It’s ok. You are only one person and you can’t run on empty.

Impress

People do strange things to impress other people. People lie. People pretend. People justify. People care about the opinions of their peers. They care about what people think of them. People value public opinion. People live for “likes” and “shares.” When did we start to care about interactions and impressions? Why do we care? When did we buy into the ideology that our existence boils down to our “friends” list? When did we trade social interaction for social media? No one posts their failures. No one posts their struggles unless it is for gain. The real question is who are we trying to impress?

Fellowship

As an only child, I always wanted to be around other kids. I wanted to go outside to play. I wanted company. I wanted sleep-overs. I wanted to be socialized. On the flip side, I enjoyed being alone. I enjoyed not having to share. I liked the solitude. I didn’t like that when things went wrong, there was no one to share the blame. I didn’t like that there wasn’t anyone to share the household responsibilities. Relationships balanced out my life. Friends taught me to share. My husband taught me how to be selfless. My kids taught me how to sacrifice. Relationships teach us how to love one another. Relationships teach us how to fellowship with God.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

Jabez

Prayer did not come easy to me. I grew up in a church where the elders could pray down heaven. I was often intimidated by the way the Mothers and Elders prayed. As I grew in God, I began to understand that people pray to God based upon their understanding of God or based on who God has been in their lives. God may be a “Genie” God to you. You know….the God “pay my rent, pay my bills, bless me God.” God may be a “make this happen, open this door” God to you. Your personal experiences with God tend to make all the difference.

The prayer of Jabez helped me understand the simplicity of prayer. Prayer is my way of talking to God. I can express my fears, my regrets, my hopes and dreams. I can reverence God for who he is in my life. I can express my disappointment and confusion. I can express my gratitude, and I can share my concerns.

Ask yourself the following questions?

Who are you praying to?

• Jabez knew God as his Lord and the God of Israel.

What are you praying for?

• Jabez asked God to bless me him and enlarge his territory.

Why are you praying?

• Jabez knew that he needed God’s help to accomplish what he asked.

How do you want God to help?

• Jabez wanted God to keep him from evil.

Trust that God hears your prayers

• God answered Jabez’s prayer.

1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.