Perspective

I couldn’t let September pass without an entry…so better late than never.

My word for today is “Perspective.”

There is a wisdom that comes with age and the passage of time.  I wish that I could give that away to my younger friends.  I cannot.  Each of us must learn certain things on our own.

I have often lamented with friends who are my age that I wish I could go back and redo certain periods of my life, knowing what I know now.   What would it be like to live through my 20’s and onward feeling pretty and intelligent and confident?  I can’t imagine.  Surely I wouldn’t make some of the same mistakes.  Surely not.  But somehow, there would be other mistakes, then.  Maybe mistakes of pride?  Realizing my inadequacy brings me to my knees…I am reminded daily of my need for God and that is a good thing.

Do I trust You, Lord, that You redeem all things?  Yes.  So…my journey has not been wasted.  Nothing is wasted with God.  

Just the phrase “do I trust you, Lord?” takes me back to the 1980’s and one of my favorite artists from that era…Twila Paris.  Here is a medley from You Tube that doesn’t sound quite as dated as the original track from her album.  She has one of the purest voices. 

Of all that I have learned over the years, nothing has impacted my life greater than a deeper understanding of Grace.  I still have so much to learn…but I am a lot further along the road than I once was.  Grace means that I am free to run home when I fall down.  Grace means my Daddy-God’s (Abba-Father’s) arms are always open for me.

 I can receive Grace from God…receive far beyond what I deserve.  That’s what Grace is.  I have heard that Mercy is not getting what I deserve and Grace is getting so much more that I deserve.  I am living a Grace-filled life.  More than I deserve because of who God is.  It’s not all up to me.  What a lovely, freeing and beautiful thought.  Today, I have the Perspective of seeing God’s overarching Grace on my life from the beginning to where I stand today.  And that same Grace will lead me home.

My Perspective has been refined by Grace.  As I have believed more deeply, I have received more freely.   I can look back on the years and see God’s hand.  As I have learned to receive Grace, I have learned to give it.  And I have learned to look back over the years and extend it to myself…extend it to the girl I once was as well as to who I am today.  This, to me, is the secret to happiness and contentment.  

Romans 8:28 

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.

 

Joel 2:25

²⁵ “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
    the great locust and the young locust,
    the other locusts and the locust swarm^[a]—
my great army that I sent among you.  New International Version (NIV)