Perspective

I've been thinking a lot lately about a little word called "perspective". I recently spoke with a beautiful lady who has been battling an advanced form of cancer for the past few years. As she so graciously shared parts of her story with me, I was deeply moved by her positive disposition. She explained to me that the doctors had told her that after she made it through treatment, and after a certain amount of time had passed, then they could give her a 5% chance of survival without relapse. Wow, 5%... but before I had time to consider what that number really meant, she said something that struck me. With a smile on her face, she gently placed her hand on mine and said, "hey, someone has to make up that 5%, right?" Wow, what an amazing perspective. Not long after this conversation I couldn't help but notice the way this same lady and her husband were interacting. His love for her was completely evident in even their simplest of exchanges. I said to him, "I bet you look at everything differently now." Without hesitation he said, "Everything." They both went on to explain how things that they used to disagree over, now seem so petty. Every moment is a gift, not to be taken for granted. We gain perspective through our own life experiences, but we can also gain perspective through the experiences of others. I want to learn to recognize opportunities to be encouraged and gain perspective. Opportunities like the one that I was given when I crossed paths for only a few hours with a very special couple. In such a short amount of time, through their example they taught me an invaluable lesson. I want to cherish each moment with my husband here and now. I don't want to wait for tragedy to strike before I'm reminded to speak sweeter, and to laugh harder. The day may very well come that our world will be turned upside down by disaster or disease, but by the grace of God that day isn't here yet. Sure there are things in life that we have to deal with in the day to day. There will be times that we feel overwhelmed or discouraged, but remember this... we are not promised another minute on this earth. When your path is laden with obstacles that offer pain, or scattered with roadblocks that seem hopelessly discouraging... search for an avenue that will lead you to a greater perspective. Will a better attitude change your situation? Maybe not... probably not. Life will always have it's challenges. That fact gives us hope for a greater life beyond the one we know here. What is your perspective today? Is your glass half empty, or half full? There may be times where by worldly standards, you have every right and reason to think it's half empty. Times when you deserve to say that it's half empty. CHOOSE to see it as half full. Sure, that may be the unexpected path to take, but take it anyway. If you are reading this then that tells me that at this very moment your heart is beating in your chest, which means that things could always be worse. Today is a gift... will you throw it away, or will you rip the paper off and see what's waiting for you?! Maybe it's not what you've always dreamed of, but what can you make it to be? Sometimes the cards are crummy, but strive to make the best of the hand you've been dealt.

Many times when I write, it's something that I need to hear myself. I have a feeling that I may be revisiting this one from time to time!!

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