All About Me

I was a somewhat self centered new bride. Thirty seven years later, and I still am at times. Everything all about me. It’s something I’m constantly working on.


When we were newlyweds, we came up with our own little life plan. We were going to wait to have kids, spend a few years getting to know each other better and then start a family. Two months later I was pregnant. I was 20 years old.


Funny, with my first pregnancy it was all about the experience for me. (I blame it on my immaturity😂) The cute clothes, the big announcement, the first grandchild, the family excitement. The idea of being pregnant was so magical. Until reality hit.


I didn’t just have morning sickness, I had 24/7 sickness. Anytime, anywhere. When it hit, it hit hard. It was no respecter of time or place. And suddenly, it was no longer about that little baby growing inside of me. It was all about me.


I whined. I complained. I cried. I pouted. I felt sorry for myself. I forgot about the “why” because I was so focused on me.


But when my precious little child was born, everything changed.


All the sickness of pregnancy and pain of childbirth was wrapped up in a tiny baby and when that gift was given to me, it was beyond good. She was my miracle.


Her birthday is next week. She continues to teach me what selfless truly means. She is one of the most selfless people I know.


Looking back I realize, if I had taken my eyes off of Charisse and focused on the miracle inside me, things could have been so different. I’m not trying to say that I miraculously would have avoided morning sickness, but a different outlook could have changed my life, and the lives of those around me.


We are human. It’s easy to let the “what about me” feelings seep in and control us. It’s natural to want others to feel sorry for us when life is hard, to want a little compassion and even empathy.
Life is hard. For some, unbearably hard.


But even in the unbearable, we are not alone. There is a Miracle living inside us and His name is Jesus. From the beginning of time He has promised that He will always be with us and will never leave us comfortless.


Some of us might be so focused on ourselves that we completely miss God’s “why”. Others might not ever know the “why” of their suffering until they are home in heaven one day. In either case, we can choose to glorify our Savior if we will learn to continually fix our eyes on Him.


Sometimes we forget that. We take our eyes off the Miracle and focus on ourselves.


My first little miracle’s name is Jessica.
When she was born, everything changed.


The miracle of all mankind’s name is Jesus. The season of His birth is fast approaching. He is our Wonderful, our Counselor, our Prince of peace. He is our Comforter and Sustainer.


All our pain, all our sin and all our suffering was wrapped up in a precious little baby Who took it upon Himself when He died on the cross. When He was born, all of mankind was given the greatest gift of all.
Everything changed. Our past, our present, our future. Our eternity.


All the pain and all the “hard” that we might be going through will one day produce our own miracle. I know this to be true because God promises me that whatever I face is for my good, and I trust Him. I’m not trying to convince you that the hard will miraculously go away if we take our eyes off of ourselves and place them on our Savior, but I am saying that our lives will look a whole lot different if we do.


And the lives of those around you will be better for it.


Focus on the Miracle inside you.
Focus on the miracle of Jesus.






SCRIPTURE READING


Hebrews 12:1-2
Galatians 2:20
Ephesians 3:16-21
2 Corinthians 13:4-5
Isaiah 9:6-7
John 14:18-20
John 3:16
Romans 8:28, 38-39
Isaiah 41:10-13
1 Peter 5:7
Hebrews 13:5-6