"A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE"

PERSPECTIVE: a particular attitude 

toward or way of regarding something,

a point of view. 

Nestled high on a top shelf of my walnut stained kitchen cabinet, tucked neatly in the corner... stands a stack of cups representing the evidence that "little people" have been present in this home.  Normally when I open this cabinet and peer inside, when this colorful stack enters my peripheral view, sadness washes over me like the sprinkles of a hot shower.  Sadness because these belong to grandchildren who are many miles away, literally the other side of the world in Thailand.  Today when they caught my eye... I looked at them with a "new perspective"! 

You see, most often I focus on the fact that the grandchildren are not here... that warm hugs are only shared years apart... that they are growing up so quickly without my being an active part of many of their activities... that seeing them comes in the form of skype calls or pictures sent... that when Kate (the youngest) says: "Nanny hold me" or "I want to come to your house" I have to turn my head so she doesn't see the tears fall... that when Jackson says: "Nanny, I can smell you" I long for him to be able to snuggle close and smell my perfume for real not just in his memory... that when Sophie says: "Come to my house tomorrow" I have to answer: "Oh Sophie, Nanny would love to come to your house... that the 845 Pins to my "Kid and Grandma Fun" Pinterest Board lay dormant till "furlough time"... and the list could go on and on.

Awwww... but TODAY, when I looked at that colorful stack - I smiled :)  I looked at them as evidence of GOD'S BLESSING on my life.  He has given me the awesome privilege of being a "NANNY"... of being loved by three little people who no matter how many miles they are away think that I am truly special... that I can come up with awesome experiments (some duds too) and fun things to do... that I am "fluffy" which makes me good to snuggle with... that I can sing silly songs (way off key)... I can read funny books and do crazy motions and sound effects with them... that PaPaw and I have a collection of cool toys stored just for them when they come to our house... that I have the privilege of daily praying for them... that even the sound of their voice makes me smile... that there is not a day goes by that I don't think of them... that I praise God they are healthy and have such unique little personalities all of their own... TODAY, THAT STACK OF CUPS BROUGHT... THANKSGIVING!

Our "PERSPECTIVE" is determined not so much by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life; not so much by what happens to us, but by the way our mind looks at what happens.

Our bodies respond and react to the input from our minds.  If we feed our minds with doubt, negativity, "woe is me," discouragement, or "stinkin' thinkin'" (as our son-in-law Jeff would say)... that is precisely the kind of day we will experience.  Thoughts positive or negative, grow stronger when fertilized with constant repetition!  

Look for the BLESSINGS amongst the trials... IT IS "A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE!"

Philippians 4:8 KJV

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.