Perspective. Something I’ve been thinking about often over these last few months…

What kind of day are you having today? Is your glass half empty? Or half full?

I feel like world’s glass might be half empty, and maybe that’s partly why this topic has been on my mind.

However, when your husband gets diagnosed with cancer, your perspective on EVERYTHING changes.

I still remember the day. I was in an extremely grumpy and negative mood. Just in a funk. I’m sure you’ve had those days too. In fact, not being able to open a jar is what sent me into tears. That’s odd, right? Why would I cry over not being able to open a jar? PERSPECTIVE.

You see, typically when I can’t open up a jar, I hand it over to my husband and he opens it. We are at the point where we just work better together than alone. There’s things he does well, and things I do well, and together we make a pretty great team. Opening the hard jars is his thing. (I know, a silly example…) But, while I was struggling with this stinkin’ jar, I remember thinking to myself, “Man, I wish Brad was home to help me with this”. And that’s when a negative, grumpy voice in my head said, “Well, if cancer takes him, you’ll always be left alone to open the jars…” Trigger tears…

Going through hard trials is no joke. There are good days and bad days. We can choose to listen to those negative voices, or choose to change our perspective. How you ask? Let me give you more every day, ordinary examples.

One of my pet peeves is how my dear husband loads the dishwasher. I know…I SHOULD be grateful he’s even loading the dishwasher…but of course it’s not the RIGHT way. I know the ladies reading this understand. There IS a right way to load the dishwasher…

Anyway, it used to always drive me nuts that I would have to rearrange the dishes because I just knew I could fit more if it was done right.

Now? Now, things are different. Now I SMILE when I see the dishwasher not “right”. Why? Because it means my husband is still around, loading the dishes wrong.

Perspective.

He also has a habit of leaving the garage lights on. Most times when I’m leaving the house, I open the door to the garage to find the lights have been left on. Another thing that used to drive me nuts, because you know, this cheap, dutch girl hates to pay for electricity that nobody’s using.

Now? Again, I smile. I smile because it’s a little reminder that he’s still here, running up our electric bill.

Perspective.

You guys, even through the trials there are tiny blessings tucked inside. You just have to pay attention and look for them. God has given me little reminders in my every day life. Things that used to bother me, now put a smile on my face. Little reminders of what’s really important in life.

When you’re given something huge like cancer, all the little annoyances go away. They just don’t matter anymore! You celebrate the big things AND the little things. You take nothing for granted. You TRULY realize that EVERY DAY is a blessing.

Oh, how we take so much for granted.

None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.
NONE. OF. US.
It just hits you harder, and you REALIZE it more, when a doctor gives you a timeline.
(A timeline, by the way, that means absolutely nothing to us. God’s the only one that knows any of our timelines.)

The point is, don’t wait until you have a major health crisis to realize that life is beautiful, and a gift. Choose today, right now, to change your perspective.

You have one life. Do something amazing with it.

Work hard, and love harder.
Be the good in the world (man, do we need it right now).
Read your Bible and speak the Truth.
Stand up for what is right, even if it’s unpopular. (More than likely it will be.)
Eat healthy food, and take care of your body, you’re only given one!
Smile often.
Laugh more.
Send some snail mail.
Stop to smell the roses…like for real, do it!
Pray harder than you’ve ever prayed…not just once, but every day.
Don’t make decisions out of fear.
Be wise.
Enjoy even the nitty gritty that life brings.
Go on an impromptu adventure.
Pick up a new hobby.
Don’t. waste. time.
Say ‘yes’ to your kids more, and fight less.
Choose to see the good in people.
Give the benefit of the doubt.
Love your spouse, and love them well.

And most importantly…
Connect with God on a new level and seek His will for your life.
Commit to Him. Let Him sit in the driver’s seat.
I promise you, it’ll be better than anything you have planned for yourself.

Just DO LIFE and do it well.
Live in the moment, for you never know what tomorrow will bring.
And lastly, when your spouse does that really annoying thing, smile.

Be strong and courageous always,
Lindsey

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20