➡️ Perception ➡️ Gratitude ➡️ Joy ➡️
Welcome, November…not just because I love a good Thanksgiving dinner, and time with family, but because throughout the month, I am truly focused on seeing the goodness of God in the land of the living.
I spoke with someone just the other day who mentioned she simply struggled to find God’s goodness in the midst of her life’s circumstances.
Often times, that problem is solved when we recognize our eye/I problem and get help…
Hence, this little allegory:
Perception.
Gratitude.
Joy.
Triplets born hinged at the hip.
Conjoined, so that each one depends on the other for living her life’s purpose.
Perception, the first born. entered the world full of possibilities and the potential for positivity.
However, it was clear from the beginning that she had an eye problem.
It was difficult to diagnose exactly what was wrong.
Sometimes she saw things clearly.
At other times her vision was clouded and confused.
Much of the time, it seemed her vision problem was simply myopic.
When Perception seemed “off,” Gratitude was greatly affected.
You see, Gratitude, the second child, was born completely blind, yet given a lovely voice.
Depending on what Perception could see, the expression of Gratitude’s voice was decided.
She whole-heartedly listened to Perception to lead her into the world through the sharing of her eyes.
So, sometimes, Gratitude’s song came out sounding more of a funeral dirge than a joyful, wedding song.
But, after years of research, Doctors diagnosed new lenses through which Perception could view the world.
These lenses had the ability to see the world through eyes of clarity.
New spectacles that saw the world through the eyes of the Lord God…with the same vision of beauty for everything around her.
When Perception wore her new “perspectacles,” the world around her came ALIVE with blessings in abundance; even the desert places glistened with loveliness; and the darkest of times held a warm glow of light that positively changed everything.
As she whispered her new vision into the ear of her sister Gratitude, Perception painted a glorious picture of all that was good and grand, sparkling and stunning.
These new lenses so changed Perception, that even when the sun wasn’t shining brightly, she saw a silver lining, and with great care passed this on to Gratitude.
This is how Gratitude began singing songs of a less somber quality, and gave the world about her inspiring hymns of praise for the glorious works of the Lord, and melodious, catchy songs of celebration.
Often, at random moments, as Gratitude pondered what Perception shared with her, she would belt out a happy rhythm based on these abundant pleasures…songs of Adoration and Thankfulness.
Joy, by simple deduction, entered the world last, following the other girls, and, like the other girls, she, relied on them for the heart problem with which she was born.
Her heart condition left her prone to depression, grumbling, criticism, hopelessness, shame and a lack of peace.
But, when Perception’s vision changed, and Gratitude sang her joyful songs about the mercies of the Lord, His wondrous works, and His faithfulness to all generations, Joy’s heart was strengthened.
As her heart became stronger, she overflowed with peace, hope, enthusiasm: JOY like a river…
The great gift Joy offered, as she touched the lives of those she came in contact, was the ability to heal other wounded hearts about her.
Imagine. A change in perception, brough about a transformation of gratefulness, which soothed and cared for many a damaged soul!
Of course, the girls often reciprocated their gifts to one another…and, they lived their lives seeking to always serve one another.
**********
So, during this Thanksgiving month, may your Perception be clear-visioned, your Gratitude be immersed in the goodness of the Lord as He shows up in the world around you, and your Joy overflow with healing hope for others.
“The grateful heart is like a magnet sweeping over the day, collecting reasons for gratitude.”
Max Lucado