Remember that it is also half full.
Several years ago while in seminary, my roommate Michaela and I took our regular trip to the grocery store. Now being a “self-supporting” grad school student, money was, well… tight. As such, nothing was ever wasted, especially food!
On this particular day, as we loaded the car with our treasures, I accidentally dropped the carton of blueberries. All I could see were my tasty blues all over the parking lot.
“There goes my serving of fresh fruit!” I thought to myself. I felt completely deflated. I could not afford to buy more. But then my roommate said something that would forever change the way I looked at life, “Tricia, look! You’ve still got a container full of blueberries left!”
For me what Michaela said was revolutionary. I could choose how I perceived a situation. I could either focus on what’s wrong, or focus on what’s right. I could morn over what’s lost, or be thankful for what’s saved. I could lament a mistake or rejoice over an accomplishment. I choose how I see the world and my circumstance. What I choose to focus on, will either help to propel me forward or keep me locked up in despair.
Over the course of my recovery, this lesson stuck with me. Yes, there were moments my husband Shawn would have to gently pry me away from a frozen stare in the mirror as I unsuccessfully tried to dress my wounds, but a brief reminder that “my cup” was half full, always helped me to keep pushing forward.
I have been learning that what we think about, or how we view a situation or circumstance truly impacts not only recovery, but life. How crucial it is then to guard our thoughts. We aught to be selective about what we allow our minds to dwell on, and be intentional about how we think about our circumstances.
So how have you been perceiving your situation lately?
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
No matter what it is, God is bigger!