Where is your FOCUS?

Let's say you have a box of precious stones on one side and a box of dirt on the other side, both with the lid off.... You reach into one and grab a handful of treasure and with the other you dig in and grab a fistful of dirt. You tighten your grip on each, closing your fist around them. You can no longer see what's in each hand. Your hands are both completely full. You know what's in each hand and can feel the difference. Let's say the stones are your treasure in life, or the blessings that you count such as your husband, children, grandchildren, home, faith,  your life's profession.... Etc... They could be whatever you hold dear. Then let's say the other hand of dirt is the negativity in your life... The things you focus on, day to day, that drag you down. They maybe tasks, or negative situations or people that get your goat, those 10 lbs you haven't lost, your mother-in-law, work, the kids having too many jobs for you to tend too, oh yeah, don't forget the grocery store! With both our hands closed- we have a balance- the good and bad, the pure and the ugly. 

We tend to play in the dirt (normal human reaction)- picking up as much as we can, holding onto the gems ever tighter.... But, really only focusing on the dirt. As we look at the dirt in our hand, more gets piled on- because our hand is open while we are looking at it. We allow it to be our only focus. If we just let the dirt go.... Rinse our hand of it... Then we are free to play in the box of gems with both hands. Pick up an extra blessing, count one more thing that the Lord has protected us from, be thankful for our health and the people around us, even grateful for the basics we take for granted- breath, life, sun, food, shelter, the ability to feel and learn. The list can go on.

 I know this is a simple concept.... But, let's add another factor - let's put blinders on that only allow us to see the side with the dirt box. We still can drop the dirt, but - we can't see the gems.... We feel them, but we can't see them. It's really our only focus. If you could do something that would allow you to see both- wouldn't you do it? Sure! Anyone would. We need the extra visual stimulus to help us focus on the good. 

Sometimes a good friend can lend an ear and get us to see things in a different light. Sometimes things are too dark. Sometimes, more than that is nesessary. Sometimes chemical or professional help is what is needed. If this allows the blinders to be removed- DO IT!

Many of us go and ask a friend for advice, others will seek the guidance of a parent, doctor or pastor... Whomever we go to- my hope is that we are honest enough to see where our focus is and that they are honest enough to tell us- CHANGE YOUR FOCUS! Look beyond yourself. If it takes making a conscious decision to help someone else, volunteer, see that what we have is truly amazing!  

We all have to learn that there is very little we can control in this life. The very little is us!

We truly have to live by faith and know that - God is in control! We don't know the blessings that are around the corner. It is upto us to count it as a blessing or a gem.... Or count it as a curse or a disappointment? 

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts." Is 55:8-9