A Change In Perspective
I am going to physical therapy treatments, for some issues dealing with my sciatic nerve. My sessions are actually in an Oncology center, right across from where patients are receiving their chemotherapy treatments.
A few days ago, after I had finished one of my sessions, I was waiting for the doors to an elevator to open, when I saw an older gentleman approach to catch the elevator as well. He looked like he was exhausted from his chemo treatments. He walked with a cane, and it was clear that he was ready to go home to rest. We spoke briefly and he was quite kind.
Finally, the elevator doors opened, and we got on. As the door to the elevator was about to close, a woman hurried to catch a ride down with us. When she got on, I cheerfully spoke and said, “How are you doing today”?
Oh, my goodness why did I even ask? Her response to me was “I can’t be doing too good if I am here, can I?”. She did not smile, and there was quite a bit of bitterness in her tone. When that was the response that I got, I noticed the older gentleman lift his head slightly, and looked at me in disbelief at her response.
I responded to her by saying, “I think that we are all doing good. We woke up this morning, and so many people didn’t”. I also told her that we were blessed to be able to receive the healthcare that we needed. Her response back to my comment actually surprised me. She said, “ma’am you are right”. I need to change my perspective. I need to look at things differently”.
I am sharing this story because, we all have been guilty at one time or another of forgetting that even when we are going through challenging or difficult times, we still have so much to be thankful for.
I don’t know what you may be facing today but trust, that no matter how hard things may be, someone, somewhere, is dealing with something that will make your situation pale in comparison to theirs.
One way to combat the feeling of despair and hopelessness is to take a few minutes at the end of each day and write down the things that you are most grateful, for that day. When your focus shifts to a place of gratitude, it is amazing how much better you will feel about your situation, even though nothing has really changed.
God is blessed when we are grateful and when we sincerely express our gratitude to Him no matter our circumstances.
Remember when our attitudes change our perspectives change, and the secret to all of this is gratitude.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Chronicles 16:34
34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 50:20
20 You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son.
Philippians 4:6
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Psalm 107
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
