OK, I know it is a mixed metaphor, but it gets your attention and
sets up the idea I want to convey.
The past couple of weeks have been difficult for me in some ways.
I injured my Sciatic nerve and have been in quite a bit of pain. I have seen a
doctor and am taking therapy, but the results are somewhat slow in reliving the
pain to say the least. Quite a surprise as I have never had this type of
problem before.
Next I had a filling come out of a tooth and went to the dentist
yesterday for a simple repair. A few hours later I left the office after having
two Wisdom Teeth pulled, a tooth prepared for a crown and three small fillings.
This was a surprise as it is the first of my teeth I have had to have pulled in
almost 68 years and seldom have problems with my teeth.
So, those are some of the lemons (the sour things that make you
scrunch up your mouth and shake your head and say I don't like that). OK, I
know you can make lemonade, but I don't much like that either. Now I can choose
to dwell on those things and say, "Oh, poor me! Why do all of these things
happen to me? I have to admit that I don't like the pain and am praying for
quick relief, however I tend to look for the Silver Lining when I can.
A few weeks ago the church where I had previously preached in
California sent us a house warming gift of a beautiful Boston fern. Now that
the weather has warmed here in Ohio my wife hung it on the back porch and
waters and cares for it regularly. Quite unexpectedly one day she found a
Robin's nest in the fern. Now, day by day we watch it and as of yesterday it
has 4 eggs in it. We also noticed one day, one the Robin's eggs lay broken on
the ground and in the place of the Robin's egg was a smaller brown speckled
egg. We suspect a sneaky Sparrow did this, taking advantage of the Robin's care
for the egg and baby soon to be born. We are looking forward to this with great
expectations.
OK, here's the point. You can choose to dwell on the Lemon's in
your life, or you can look for the Silver Linings around you. I choose to try
and look for the good, the beautiful, possibly the unexpected; for that which
will make me smile and think good thoughts in spite of the pain life
brings.
Paul wrote these words to us on how to deal with life in Philippians
4:8 (I hope you find them helpful): "Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things". (ASV) Another paraphrase of this verse
says, "fill your minds with those things that are good".
--Russ Lawson
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