“Finding the Good in the Bad“
By Rodney Holmstrom, National Field Director, March 23, 2020
“In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had
I was walking out to my car the other night to leave the office after a crazy day of juggling all this COVID-19 madness in our community and ministry.
To be honest, I was pretty exhausted, not just physically, but spiritually and pretty discouraged seeing all the bad happening around me.
As I walked out to my car, there it was. I saw a sky that looked like a painting of brilliant colors. I was struck to stand there and just take it in. What an amazingly creative God we serve.
Thinking this morning how easy it is in the midst of difficult times to overlook His beauty in those things around me. I am reminded this morning that it is important to slow down to stop and “live” in the moment. Sometimes that living in the moment means being honest about where I am emotionally and how I am thinking and expressing that to God and others. When I can be honest about my own heart, it is then that I begin to hear His voice for His truths. When I saw that beautiful sky it was as if God was saying, “Rodney, don’t miss the good things around you in the midst of this chaos son.”
This reminds me of a quote I heard, “Life isn’t measured by the breaths we take but the moments that take our breath away.”
With everything happening around you have you stopped to see the good things?What takes your breath away?
A few for me…
*Hearing my kids and grandson laugh.
*Seeing my family pray, sing and laugh together.
*Listening to brothers and sisters share victories in their life.
*Seeing so many people posting to social media inspirational and God-inspired truth in the midst of chaos.
Or how about that moment when you see the turning point in a friend that leads them to finally take action toward healing and freedom in their life.
Today I am grateful for a changed heart that no longer responds to pain in those old unhealthy and destructive ways that were once my coping mechanisms. God has given me a new heart that has the ability to see things as a gift, to love and appreciate what the Lord paints in my life now. I am grateful for the vision to see value in even the smallest things in my life now. That wasn’t always the case.
A word of encouragement to you in this time of struggle,
“In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Mother Teresa
Let’s face today’s challenges with a heightened awareness of the smallest gifts given to us by a loving Father. What gifts and blessings can you face today with the greatest of love?
Hang in there forever family. We love you and are here for you every step of the way! We are going to get through this together!