Perspective Shift

The day started off with the wonderful news of a team member having a baby. We were so overjoyed! Of course, I had to be one of the first to the hospital and as soon as they came home I rushed into the kitchen to cook up a meal. 

I’m not really the grill master in our house, but since my husband was out running my “honey do” list, I thought I would at least turn on the grill for him to have it ready as soon as he got home. The starter on the grill was broken, but no big deal, just turn on the gas and light it up… right? Boy, did I light it up!!... 

I couldn’t seem to get the lighter to light, so after several attempts, I held it straight out and with force pressed the safety lock and triggered the release button. It worked all too well because it lit and hit the gas fumes that had been running for a few minutes by this point! A gulf of fire burst out of the grill and it immediately hit my body. I felt my hair singeing up and heat engulfed my face! 

 I ran into the bathroom to check out the damage. I stood still, outwardly calm and inwardly in a panic as I assessed the damaged. The hair around my face had shrunk up and burned, my arm hairs were toasted, my eyebrows and lashes were charred.  

My first call was to my husband and my second to my stylist, although I did debate on who should be called first! In the midst of my horror, I stopped and thought for minute, “My whole body could have caught on fire and had irreparable damage, but God!” 

I’m reminded that in the midst of our miracles, we can lose sight of the extraordinary works of our faithful God because of the plethora of smaller problems that emerge. My singed hair initially clouded my perspective that God spared me from devastating burns. 

Could I cry over my hair? YES, but did I? No! My hair grew back, but for that season it was a daily reminder to me that God cares for me and loves me. God’s blessing to you just might be that thing that you don’t understand, that relationship that was cut off, that door that was shut abruptly, that interruption to your life that you did not expect.

Let’s be challenged to look at what might be burnt out and up in our lives a little differently. Let’s thank God for unopened doors, unanswered prayers, delays and even difficult places knowing that His plans for us are good and his protection is not rejection! 

Psalms 121:3

He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;