I have been sharing the past few weeks three steps that we need
to take to have a more positive attitude.
I have written about looking inward,
upward and outward. Finally today I think it is important that we look downward.
No I haven’t lost my mind.
I know that usually when you think of looking downward, it sounds like
you are discouraged or depressed. But I
think our final look needs to be a downward look at our feet and this just
might be the most important part of our journey.
It is important that we always keep tabs on where we are headed
in our life. What steps can we take to
improve our health, our family, our career, our outlook and our relationship
with Christ? Have we become stagnant in
those areas…doing the same thing over and over again? Are we willing to step out of our comfort
zone to make us and those around us better?
I’m sorry to say that too many people live in a rut because that feels
safe and they fear the unknown. And as a
result they can easily become bored, depressed and out of touch with the world
that is going on around them.
With God’s power in us, there isn’t anything that we can’t
do! God promises that if He tells us to
take a step that is WAY out of our comfort zone…He will be holding our hand
every step of the way!!
I think what is sad is that we don’t make our children step out
of their comfort zones either. It’s so
easy to want to protect them and coddle them and so we do whatever we have to
do to make sure the little darlings aren’t stressed at all. The problem is that those kids grow up and
then as adults they still expect someone else to take care of things for them
and they aren’t equipped to face the unknown.
I share in my
devotional book, Image Seeker, about the year 1989. I remember it like it was yesterday. Our first-born child was heading off to
kindergarten and excitement was in the air. Friends often asked me how I was
handling this first milestone in the life of our daughter, and I would always
reply that we were all ready. Erica was
a very bright child who carried on wonderful conversations with adults at the
age of two, so by five she was ready for the challenge - or so we thought!
The first day of school arrived and the movie camera was
rolling. A day like this just had to be
recorded so that we could relive the happy memories for years to come. My husband got into position to capture the
moment on film as I walked Erica out to meet the big yellow school bus. As we neared
the road, her precious little hand squeezed mine with all her might. I looked down, and her beautiful big eyes
told the whole story - the reality of leaving home to enter the big world
without her mom and dad was taking its toll.
We approached the bus door and I gave a big smile and wave to
the bus driver. I told Erica goodbye and
helped her onto the bus so she could begin her years of education. Unfortunately, Erica had different plans. As I backed away from the bus, she jumped
back off and ran to me, falling into my arms, crying uncontrollably. I’m not sure whose heart was hurting worse at
that time – hers or mine – but I knew what I had to do. Once again, I put her back on the bus and
yes, once again, off she came. At that
point, fighting back tears myself, I had to enlist the help of the bus
driver. I placed Erica on the bus for
the third time and the driver held onto her as she closed the door and drove
off.
As hard as it was, I knew that day that I had to make Erica face
the unknown. It would have been so much
easier on me to let her stay home under my watchful eye. But I knew that what seemed easier for me on
that day, wouldn’t be the best thing for Erica’s future. Part of starting school was learning that
just like a turtle, we will never make it very far in life unless we learn to
stick out our necks!
When Erica graduated from college with a teaching degree, she
decided to move to North Carolina on her own, knowing absolutely no one in that
state. I doubt she would have ever felt
equipped and ready to do that if she wouldn’t have been made to face the
unknown growing up.
Trust me when I say that you will have more opportunities to see
your life as half full, if you let go and allow your kids to step out of their
comfort zone and if you allow God to push you out of your comfort zone.
Is stepping out of your comfort zone scary at times? You bet it is. Is it worth it? It definitely is. I could tell you story after story of times
in my life when I made the choice to allow my feet to go places I thought I
would never go and each experience has helped me to appreciate life even
more. Each situation has pushed me and
challenged me and helped me to see my cup not just half full, but many times
overflowing.
Conrad Hilton said, “Success seems to be connected with
action. Successful people keep
moving. They make mistakes, but they
don’t quit.” Sometimes we aren’t
successful in doing what we are supposed to do, because we refuse to get our
heiney off the couch! We become
paralyzed and many times fear overcomes us and we do nothing. We need to put the gear in drive and start
moving. We need to let go of those
things that are causing us to fear so we can get moving!
Why not spend some time this week looking downward? My guess is that your cup will begin to
overflow and life will take on a much more positive outlook as you allow your
feet to step wherever God leads!
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