Through the Storms and the Sunrises comes Perspective....

I am amazed this morning at the beauty “after the storm”….because yesterday, our beachfront view was cloudy and gray and thunder surrounded us.  It was slightly frightening to be so close to the edge of the beach..to see the storm coming our way and to be helpless to stop it.

The sky which had been soft blue, rose pink and slightly yellow had turned into a swirl of dark black, gray and dirty white.  The waves which had once been friendly and bounding with playful energy were now large and frothy and angry looking.

Our safe haven on the beach had been replaced with an unknown bully of a storm.

It lasted only hours but it felt like forever.

We read books, napped, watched tv and discussed what we would do in case we needed to evacuate.

We played Phase Ten, Yahtzee and Backgammon.

We waited…

And, finally, we went to bed exhausted with “doing nothing” all day…

But, as surely as the sun rises each morning, so did the beauty of our beach sunrise ...

And, I truly believe that the sunrise this morning is even more beautiful than it was these past few days…or, is it maybe that my appreciation for the view been enhanced when compared to the stormy day before?

Perspective is everything.  I believe that.

I can fully appreciate the intricate stitching of the morning’s sky a little more fully today because I have yesterday’s stormy one with which to compare.

Like life, my view has been changed by comparison….by my new perspective.

The children and I talked at length yesterday about how perspective molds who we are....if your perspective is molded by love and compassion and heart, you are more likely to forgive, to let go, to assist.

If your perspective is formed by judgment, anger or dispassionate thought, you are more likely to become harsh, cold, bitter.

If you are able to put yourself “in the shoes of another”, you are able to walk beside them and to be their friend.

But, if you cannot, then you cannot.

I want my children to be compassionate.  I want them to use their life’s experiences in a positive way to assist others.

Rather than deny that storms have come their way, I pray they are able to learn from the storms and be more sensitive to the storms of others.

We are not there yet.  We may never get there, but it is a goal..

Just as yesterday’s storm frightened us and worried us and made us realize that there is a power greater than we are who guides our lives, the beauty of today which came after the storm reminds us that that power wants good and beautiful and lovely things for us.

It is our ability to perceive that truth which will mold how we walk our days.

I choose to walk mine in faith…and, with a positive perspective.

Blessings,
Lesa