Focus on the Big Picture
There's a story I share in my book, Love Your Life, about a friend of mine who was showing me pictures from her recent vacation. She had just returned from a wonderful cruise that her family had saved for and planned for months. This trip had been especially meaningful because she was able to visit with some of her extended family she had not seen in over a year.
After she returned from her trip, we decided to meet for lunch with a group of friends. She was all smiles as she walked over to the table with her new photos in hand. "Would you like to see the pictures I just got back from my family vacation? I haven't even had a chance to look at them myself yet." "Of course!" we all said. We were happy to share in her excitement and began flipping through the photos. They were filled with images of the fabulous cruise ship, beautiful sandy beaches, charming island shops, and lots of happy faces. But before long, I noticed an uncomfortable expression on my friend's face, and she began to complain about her appearance in the pictures. "Oh, I didn't know I looked like that! This picture is awful!" She had something negative to say about herself in every single picture. Just a few moments earlier, she was so excited; but as soon as she changed her focus to what she saw as her flaws, she completely lost her joy and missed the beauty of reliving those wonderful moments with us. Instead of enjoying the memory of the marvelous trip with her family, she lost her enthusiasm as she focused on her imperfections—little things that only she could see.
We all have times when it's difficult to see the big picture because we single out what we think is wrong about our lives. I find this especially true around the Holiday Season. So many people focus on what they don't have instead of what they do have. We have to remember to take a step back and look at all the wonderful blessings that surround us! We can't let little imperfections steal our joy and rob us of the beauty of the moments God has given us.
You know, I'm sure my friend will look back on her vacation pictures thirty years from now and think, Wow, I looked pretty good! Don't wait thirty years; start looking at the goodness in your life today! Make the most of every moment by taking in the big picture of life.
After she returned from her trip, we decided to meet for lunch with a group of friends. She was all smiles as she walked over to the table with her new photos in hand. "Would you like to see the pictures I just got back from my family vacation? I haven't even had a chance to look at them myself yet." "Of course!" we all said. We were happy to share in her excitement and began flipping through the photos. They were filled with images of the fabulous cruise ship, beautiful sandy beaches, charming island shops, and lots of happy faces. But before long, I noticed an uncomfortable expression on my friend's face, and she began to complain about her appearance in the pictures. "Oh, I didn't know I looked like that! This picture is awful!" She had something negative to say about herself in every single picture. Just a few moments earlier, she was so excited; but as soon as she changed her focus to what she saw as her flaws, she completely lost her joy and missed the beauty of reliving those wonderful moments with us. Instead of enjoying the memory of the marvelous trip with her family, she lost her enthusiasm as she focused on her imperfections—little things that only she could see.
We all have times when it's difficult to see the big picture because we single out what we think is wrong about our lives. I find this especially true around the Holiday Season. So many people focus on what they don't have instead of what they do have. We have to remember to take a step back and look at all the wonderful blessings that surround us! We can't let little imperfections steal our joy and rob us of the beauty of the moments God has given us.
You know, I'm sure my friend will look back on her vacation pictures thirty years from now and think, Wow, I looked pretty good! Don't wait thirty years; start looking at the goodness in your life today! Make the most of every moment by taking in the big picture of life.