Have you ever noticed that sometimes the hardest fought for things, the things that are the biggest embarrassment, the most difficult times, produce the sweetest memories?
Sometimes it strikes me afresh. It was like that this morning as we were driving our big, ugly, cumbersome, pine green van. I was driving west but keeping an eye on the sunrise in my big side mirror. As it came up, I gave the announcement and all heads in the car turned and oohed and aahed. It is sort of tradition. We like sunrises and sunsets. Yes, I do have almost all boys. They like the beauty just as much as we girls. We started young. In this very same van, as a matter of fact.
I don't really like driving this van, as I've said before.........oh, I like it alright, it's just that it's a 15 passenger van and i am alone most of the day......yeah. I know. And, I know that the teens are feeling a little awkward at times when they all pile out at school or church or another event. Ah, well. Such is life.
But in the midst of this sunrise, I remembered how many memories are made in the middle of something we aren't necessarily proud of. Some of the best moments with my kids aren't when they are at those stages when they are at their best, but when they are not at their best and have an "ah ha" moment and make a really good decision. I love that. But if it weren't for the painful times, I might not appreciate it so much.
And have you ever noticed that the people who are closest to us make us the edgiest at times? And yet, it is with them that we grow and change and learn the most. Not easy, but necessary.
So I was thinking that we should walk through our lives looking for the good. We should be a people who seek the positive. The excellent. Things worthy of praise. Because just as that sunrise was beautiful and noteworthy though we were travelling along in the ugly van, many other things in life are worth noting though we are in the middle of the crud. (yes, I did change that word.)
Nobody else gets to choose what you see. Nobody else gets to define what is good in your life. You get to choose every day. It can be "oh, I hurt and can barely get out of this bed," or it can be "I am so glad that I woke up to live another day." Same day. Different perspective.
Choose wisely. And don't be a Pollyanna..........good movie, bad way to live. I'm not saying "Praise the Lord, I lost my arm." Or, "I'm so glad that my mom passed away." Those things are ludicrous. But, sadly, I've met people who talk like that. It's so............fake.
Be real. You lost your arm, but while you were at the hospital you met someone who wants to publish the book that you have wanted to publish for years. Or, your mama passed away and you are heartbroken, but in the midst of it all, it has brought you and your estranged daughter closer together.
The sunrise did not make the van any prettier. It did not make it less of an embarrassment to my kids. It did not make it run on less gas. It did not make it smaller and easier to park while I am driving around running my errands. But it brought smiles. It brought memories. It brought a new day. With new possibilities. New hope. But, we could have been so busy grumbling about our ugly van and the big ear looking mirrors that we missed it completely. That would have been a terrible shame. For it was spectacular and with me even at this moment.
I don't know what your day holds and I can't even pretend to understand the pain that some of you are going through, but I do know WHO holds your day and sends you love messages throughout it to let you know that you are cared for. It's up to you whether you open the mail or not. Just like it's up to you whether to open any gift.
Look deeper. Look for the good. With intent. and then, share it. Pass it along. Be blessed. And be a blessing.
It's really nice to be around people like this. Makes you feel like breathing. Smiling. Hoping. Makes it feel like nothing is greater than the Father's love for us. No circumstance. No pain. No ending. No disappointment.
I love that song.........when I can see your hand, i'll trust your heart.
blessings,
rhonda
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