On Seeing Beyond Life’s Flaws With the Lens of Gratitude
Are the disappointments and imperfections of your life glaring, too?
He was a large man, at least that’s what I remember as I nodded and smiled at the insurance adjuster on my way out the door. My husband had just brought him into our kitchen to assess the damage in the ceiling of our pantry, where an upstairs toilet had burst and caused water damage.
I dropped my son off at school and went to work, where there would be no hole in the ceiling, no bucket of drywall pieces on the floor.
Later that evening as we were sitting around the dining room table, my husband told me the man said he sees a lot of people’s homes, and ours was “such a nice place.”
I paused my fork in midair. “He did?”
If I had you over for coffee, you’d have to drive through some swanky coastal neighborhoods, with the smallest of houses going for well over a million. Then, right before you reached the industrial part of town, with the Target surrounded by some grittier businesses, you’d turn into our condo complex.
When you walked into our place, you’d see where the cat has torn up the carpet, then you’d notice the kitchen cabinet hanging slanted off its hinge. I’d invite you into our living room, filled with hand-me-down furniture, and you’d sit on one of our dining room chairs, on a cushion cracked and splintered with age (and cat claws.)
You wouldn’t say anything, of course, because you’re polite and a good friend, but I’d feel a little self-conscious anyways.
When it comes to my home, the imperfections are easy for me to see—glaring, even. Often, the same is true on a broader scale, in whatever circumstances I find myself in. I stand in the middle of it all and I only have eyes for what could be better, for what doesn’t meet my expectations, for failures big and small. It takes more faith to look beyond and see the beautiful, to look through the lens of gratitude.
Sometimes, we are sunk so deep in the mire of painful and unwanted circumstances that we can’t seem to see past any of it.
Sometimes, it takes a supernatural effort to focus on what is good, beautiful, and true.
Sometimes, hope is simply persistence in the dark1 and a longing for resurrection, renewal, and restoration.
This kind of beyond-vision doesn’t always come naturally to us. At times, we may need to be reminded by a stranger standing in our kitchen, or a friend calling it like she sees it, or a lyric landing in our heart, or a casual comment by a child, or a prophetic sentence leaping off the page.
The Holy Spirit blows in many directions, so who knows how our attention will be re-centered on God?
Something I wrote: When You’re Worried Your Child Won’t Turn Out Right. I’m honored to be a regular contributor to Growing Moms in God’s Word and my first piece is for all of us moms who feel anxiety around our kids’ decisions!
Something I read and loved: Saying Yes to the Season You’re In by
. I’ve never aspired to be like a squirrel before, but now I do! I needed this wisdom today.Something I listened to: Dr. Alicia Britt Chole on the That Sounds Fun podcast was brimming was with insight and hard-fought wisdom. There are only a handful of episodes in any podcast ever that have made me run out to buy the guest’s book, BUT THIS WAS ONE OF THEM!
Something I’m cooking: I made Instant Pot Thai Peanut Noodles and it was super yummy! Definitely double the recipe if you are cooking for more than two people, and I think it needs 5 minutes of cook time instead of 4 (unless you like your noodles super al dente!)
I’m having a secret sale for subscribers! Use code TGIVING23 for 30% off any Thanksgiving-themed item in my Etsy shop. Included is this set of 30 printable Thanksgiving and praise scripture cards with prayer and journal Prompts.
Until next time,
I borrowed this imagery from Alicia Britt Chole in her book The Night is Normal, which you should totally read, by the way.
I was so surprised to see my name at the bottom! Thank You. I always love reading your beautiful words. Thank you for sharing your heart and helping me see the goodness right where I am.
"Sometimes, hope is simply persistence in the dark¹ and a longing for resurrection, renewal, and restoration." Thank you for this reminder, Sarah!