PERSPECTIVE! LOOKING PAST THE STORM

Photo provide by Kathy Mitchell

Each Saturday morning my grandchildren and I usually snuggle 

up and spend a few minutes looking at video's and photo's that 

people post on Facebook.  I began this ritual with my own children 

when they were young and we lived twelve hours from my family.  

Although we didn't have Facebook, we tried to keep plenty of photos 

in books that we viewed every week and discussed.

I have found there are always great animal videos posted on 

friends pages that my grand children love to watch, and I don't 

have to worry about scanning through and accidentally 

pulling up bad video's trying to locate a good one.  

This gives us some great time to talk about my sisters, 

brothers, cousins, etc... that live far away.  

This is a time my grandchildren can see things my family 

is doing and see what everyone looks like. This helps bridge 

the gap of family time lost for when they see them face to face.

Shown above is one of the photo's my sister posted during the week.  

As we scrolled through all the photo's of the winter ice storm 

that hit West Texas, Noah and Emma would give me their 

perspective on the event.  There were a few that we would say, 
"burr, that really looks cold."   One photo Noah seen was a tree
covered with ice and drooping down. He started laughing 
and said, "It looks like an elephant."  I had to agree, 
it did sorta look like a giant elephant.

This one particular photo shown above caused Noah 

immediate excitement.  His eyes enlarged and with enthusiasm 

in his voice he looked at us and said, "Who can push me?" 

As Emma and myself perceived a wagon standing still in the winter 

coldness with ice hanging all over it making us think, "burr."

Noah perceived an item of extreme excitement.  He looked beyond 

the ice that was hanging down on the sides, 

the snow that was cradled on the top, and the freezing 

temperature outside.  His perspective captured 

one single thing, "an exciting set of wheels 

that could provide a fun ride".

What is the perspective of the items or people around 

you who seem to be distant, cold or useless?  We must 

remember that our own perspective is not always what 

that item or person is, "It is only our perspective".  

Maybe this is why the Lord said we must become as 

little children to inherit the kingdom of God.  

Verily I say unto you, 
except ye be converted, 
and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven
Matthew 18:3

May we learn to look through the eyes of the Lord, 
the eyes of hope, faith, and joy instead of our own worldly,

cast down, forsaken set of eyes.  These eyes of ours 
that cast a shadow of winter coldness over our hearts 
and keep us from moving forward and enjoying 
life to the extreme can rob us of true joy.