Reece Gardner: How we look at things
It's often how we look at things that makes the difference.
Jo Howell told about how one day a very wealthy family took their son to the country for the express purpose of showing him how poor people lived and how fortunate he was to not be among them. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from the trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" The son said it was great. Then the father asked him if he had seen how poor people live and what that experience had taught him.
The son answered thusly: "I saw that we have one dog and they have four; I saw that we have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, but they have a creek that has no end; I saw that we have a small piece of land to live on, but they have fields that go beyond sight; I saw that we have people serving us, but they serve others; I saw that we have walls around our property to protect us, but they have friends who protect them." He then turned to his dad and said, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor WE are!" I wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have instead of worrying about what we don't have.
And now this story from Tommy Rivers who had 4 sons whom he wanted to teach to not judge things too quickly. He sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at and describe a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in Winter, the second in Spring, the third in Summer, and the fourth in Fall. At year's end, after they had all gone and returned, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent and twisted. The second son described it as being covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed, saying that the tree was laden with blossoms that smelled sweet and looked beautiful. The last son disagreed with all of them, saying that the tree was ripe and dripping with fruit, full of life and fulfilment. The man then explained that they were all correct because they had each seen the tree in but one season of the tree's life. The lesson here is that we shouldn't judge a tree, or a person, by only one season. The pleasures, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons have come and gone.
Now for a little humor: God created Adam on the sixth day. After a few weeks he checks up on his creation. He sees Adam dejected and sad. "What is wrong, my son?" asks God. "Well," said Adam, "The Garden of Eden is beautiful, and I want for nothing, and yet I am lonely and sad." God says, "Don't be sad, my child, I have just the creation for you. Her name is Eve and she will take good care of you, with the utmost patience and sweetness. I am sure you will then be truly happy." Adam says, "That sounds nice, but what will it cost me?" God answers, "It will cost you your right arm and right leg." Adam pauses, and then says "That's a bit much. What can I get for a rib!" HAVE A GREAT DAY!
