6. Perspective

It’s all about perspective. I’m so busy I’ll never get caught up. . .it’s 95 degrees outside and the air conditioner doesn’t work. . . . summer is slipping away and I haven’t done anything fun. . . my back hurts, my head hurts, and I need to lose some weight. When someone asks me how I’m doing, these are all real answers I’ve given. You know what I mean, “I’m okay I guess, but . . .” Do I really think those are good enough reasons to have a “bad day?”

There are those who don’t have a house, let alone an air conditioner; or who are out of work or worse yet, out of food. There are farmers and ranchers struggling daily to keep things together in the face of serious drought and others who are losing everything in floods and fires. There are those who are trying to start a family and can’t seem to get pregnant; or worse yet, children living on the street without the hope of parents or family. And there are others grieving for a lost loved one or suffering through a serious illness of their own or a family member.

It’s all about perspective isn’t it? The wife who just lost her husband would rejoice for a 95 degree day without air conditioning, if she could share it with him. The man watching his Alzheimer-ridden mother on her confused journey through the last days would trade everything for one dull summer day of rational conversation with her. And an inch of rain can be the greatest blessing or the worst disaster, depending on where you are.

It’s all about perspective. No matter what concerns I have in my life at the moment, there are others suffering so, so much more. So I ask God to remind me to be thankful for the little things and I prayer for the ability to keep things in perspective.