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Thoughts for a Woman's Heart |
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encouragement in things that matter |
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Mirrors and Windows
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Did you ever notice that about the time your baby started crawling, she also discovered the mirrors in your home? It’s fascinating to watch your little one at this stage, because what she thinks she has discovered is another little person. She stretches out a chubby, dimpled hand to play with that other little person and finds her smiles and giggles returned to her. Being so much older and wiser, we understand her delight. If she were looking through a window, it would be very possible for her to see someone else’s smiling face, but since she has discovered a mirror, the "friend" she sees is herself. Such are the natures of mirrors and windows. We who are older and wiser need to remember the distinct natures of mirrors and windows. There are times we stand in front of our mirrors and rehearse the difficulties, the injustices, or the stresses that are ours. Our mirrored self listens to us very well, and even parrots the words we say, "Woe is me. Life is just not fair." But think again. Who did I see when I looked in the mirror? I saw myself – my hurts, my frustrations, and my misery. (I guess misery loves company – that’s why I looked in the mirror.) I do not wish to minimize anyone’s hardships or feelings. They are very real and they can dole out generous servings of misery. What I want us to recognize is that looking in the mirror never helps. We only see ourselves, and our thinking, our feelings, and our responses are distorted. We can use life’s difficulties as mirrors to see ourselves, or, we can use life’s difficulties as windows through which we see the reality of God, the smile of His encouraging presence, and the direction of His leading and enablement. Mirrors leave us where we are. The window through which we see God brings hope. The choice is ours. |
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— Bev |
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