Perspective is an interesting word isn't it? The dictionary has various meanings but one says "The capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance." Another says "Aiding the vision." There are also a lot of mathematical definitions and we all know how I feel about math. Yuck.
Every time we travel, the Cowboy is impatient when it is time to check out and leaves me to "meet him downstairs." In doing so, I do a quick room sweep, gather up the remainder of our belongings and drag it all downstairs. For years he's left his loose change on the nightstand which I pick up and put in my purse. I truly believed he was just being lazy and it drove me nuts. One day we were discussing something, maybe about our hotels, and he said "I always leave my change for the maid. It's not a lot but I hope it helps." Sweet Stephanie of Santa Monica, I almost fainted. You what? "I leave my change." Oh honey. I have a confession. Perspective.
Why on earth did I not think like him? Why was I so selfish to gather 57 cents each and every time we leave when we are staying in a hotel that is easily over $150.00 per night? Probably because I know I'm going to need it all when he finally kicks me out for spending too much money. Hahahahaha! But in all seriousness, why didn't I think of that? I was so ashamed. I do stuff like throw away all my trash, clean up spills and put the towels in a pile thinking I'm doing them some big favor and then apparently I then go and steal their small tip money. Lord help me. My so called thoughtful gestures seem really dumb now. I'd say the Cowboy "aided my vision" that week.
We were leaving Texas and it was Memorial Day. The highways were bumping. There were literally police officers every 20 miles and I'm not exaggerating. I said "Wow. The police are really out to ruin people's holiday today aren't they." The Cowboy said "Or save their lives." Oh well yeah, there is that. What in the world is wrong with me? "Relative importance much?" Lord help my perspective.
We started a new Bible study a few weeks ago and the first week was simply boring for me and we decided we should just move on to another one. I didn't coerce anybody into doing it but I may have led the charge to do something different, more interesting and more challenging. I was bored. In waiting for the next study to arrive, I've been continuing with this one because, 1, I already bought it and 2, I'm weird about leaving things unfinished. It's just not in me. Unless is just poorly written or garbage, I'll usually finish a book. Well today I'm glad I continued. The author, Courtney Joseph, was discussing Psalm 139: 13-18. She asked, "What is something you created? Maybe it's a painting, jewelry, a special recipe you like to cook or a garden you tend to daily. Whatever it is, because you created it, you probably love it." Man I could think of a ton of stuff. I'm pretty proud of my first book, my fried chicken, my garden, my CHILDREN. She goes on to say, "Friends, you are God's creation. He made YOU. Isaiah 64:8 tells us that God is the potter and we are the clay. We are the work of His hands." Whoa. There's perspective huh? I never thought about it that way. I have thought about my children of course and Him loving us that way but never as a creation. A piece of artwork. I've heard the verse about the clay but I'm not a potter. I am however, a writer. That sunk in. Perspective.
Psalms 139: 13-18 says "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are your works, And my soul knows it well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substances, And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You!
Did you ever think about it like that? Can you understand how much God loves you? How much more did that something you created means to you? You love it because you created it! Well HE CREATED YOU! He formed you with His hands! He planned you before your parents did. He knows the number of your days. He thinks about you more than there are grains of sand???!!! So why oh why do we continue to feel unloved, unworthy, and not take care of ourselves or each other?
Stop and think for a minute about how much you love your children. There is nothing you love more, right? Now think about how much you love the precious scrapbooks you have collected over the years, saving each one of their beautiful memories, their hair, their firsts of everything. Irreplaceable right? Think about something you have made with your own hands that you are proud of. Now think about losing all of it in a fire. Now think about losing your child, in a fire. Well that's what God thinks about each and every day, when he loses one of his children, when we don't accept Jesus. When just one of you won't accept His gift. Perspective.
Let's get this thing right folks. Let's show the Creator of the universe that we know how much He loves us by loving others the same and by being in a relationship with Him the way we expect our children to be with us. It's the same thing on such a grander scale. It's eternity. He loves you You matter. Seek Him.
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