Sunday, June 28, 2015

Sunday Scripture ~ gratitude...


Over the past week, both in my personal and my business life, I've been struck by a need to focus on the 'good' and dull my vision to the glaringly obvious faults and hurts in front of me.

Let me explain. 
Take a minute to find yourself a piece of white paper and a black marker pen.
Draw a small black dot onto the centre of your paper.
Now hold it up in front of you. 
Almost without exception each time you look at it your eyes will automatically be drawn to that one little black sphere on an otherwise clean and unblemished white background.

That's pretty much how most of us look at each other. The black spot, or 'fault', in others will catch our attention more frequently than their better qualities. This is especially common when someone has been hurtful and caused us, or those we love, distress.

In a situation with one of my seven children this week I had to step away in order to lean on God because all I could see before me was the 'fault' and the distress it had caused others. I asked Him to open my eyes to the good in my child, to the extraordinarily difficult things this child has overcome the past few years, and to balance my feelings with grace, mercy, and gratitude for what has been done and what can be done in the future.

This didn't mean that the seriousness of the situation was to be left unaddressed, but it did mean I took my eyes off the black spot and looked at the larger canvas before me.

And you know what I discovered about myself in this time of Divine readjustment?
That this is how I would like others to look at my life.
That they would not just  see the black spots which mar the canvas of my life so far, but they would also see a woman who is trying to walk in goodness and grace more and more as the years pass. That as my life canvas becomes a palette of colour and beauty, the black spots will fade...until that wondrous moment when I go home to Glory and see Jesus face to face and the canvas bears no darkness any more.

Love is so very, very great. Love is the exact image of our God and Saviour, He who showed us its redeeming power with the shedding of His own perfect blood.
If He can see past my faults to the very essence of the woman I am trying to be, then by His grace I can do that for my child.
I can even do that for people I do not love as my own...but it all begins with prayer, self-examination, and a heart of gratitude for Who saved me, Who loved me before I loved Him.



Download the printable Scripture card and devotion here.

17 comments:

Kaisievic said...

Thank you, Jenny, wise words that I will try to apply to my own life and dealings with others.

Lorrie said...

Beautiful, true words, Jenny. Thank you.

Allie said...

Oh my dear girl how I LOVE seeing the Father's work in your life....

MissesStitches said...

One of my all-time favorite verses!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jenny,what a lovely reflectful post,you are a gorgeous kind and caring friend and i dont see any black spot there when it comes to you my friend,i do hope that your daughters eyes and heart open up to let you in and then to see the beautiful person you are,sending big hugs.xx

Baa. xxx said...

Such a great way to explain it - the white paper and the tiny black dot.

Nanna Chel said...

What a great way to look at things, Jenny. Yes, often we do concentrate on the black dot. Thank you for sharing your insights with us and I pray that the situation improves with your child in the near future.

Anonymous said...

Excellent devotion. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Hi jenny

Do you still have Princess Sophie? Her photos reminded me of a large tabby and white I had at in my years of first marriage called Jasmine who was a boy despite the silly name. He was a handmedown cat and was I am told called after Jasmine tea. To make him sound less girlie I called him Jassie. After 28 years I still miss him as he was a bit of a dear.

Karna

Anonymous said...

Hi jenny

Do you still have Princess Sophie? Her photos reminded me of a large tabby and white I had at in my years of first marriage called Jasmine who was a boy despite the silly name. He was a handmedown cat and was I am told called after Jasmine tea. To make him sound less girlie I called him Jassie. After 28 years I still miss him as he was a bit of a dear.

Karna

Anonymous said...

Another good Sunday post - good for every day of our lives. I am so grateful for HIS love that shows me how to love. I'm with you. I don't want people focusing on my spots!

Grammasheri said...

Just the thoughts and struggle I was dealing with this morning. My heart made the groanings but my mouth couldn't form the words. Thank you Jenny.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Yes, Karna...Princess Sophie still tries to rule the home. ;-)

Wendyb said...

*heart* *heart* * heart* you dear friend and Sister in Christ! Absolutely perfectly said xoxoxox

TerriSue said...

Oh my dear, I am praying.

Sharon - creativity and family said...

Oh Jenny, what a blessing that you were given the grace to step back and see the whole canvas. I hope that over time you will be able to see the working together for good in it all both for you and your child.
All you say is so true, how I too need others to look at the whole me, the me who may fail often but is trying with God's help to walk in the right way. You are blessed with the gift of expressing your thoughts so well, thank you for sharing. sharon x

Machelle said...

I only saw the photo ans the verse on the day you posted it. I took a dear sweet friend who perceived my own unspoken personal agony sending it to me in an email for me to slow down and read this! How easy it is to get things OUT OF FOCUS! I don't want only my black spots visible and probably others don't either. Thank you for sharing this Jenny. Have a blessed week! PS Adult children(UGH and blessing- I am with you sister)