Change of Perspective
by Tanya Person
I watched a short video recently. It was a story of a boy. He was dressed in rags and his shoes had holes in the toes. Other children made fun of him and he was very sad. He walked around and came to a park where another boy was sitting on a bench. He sat at the other end and the second boy waved and smiled at him. The first boy sat there and looked at the second boy`s shoes. His shoes looked brand new and clean. The boy looked happy and well fed. The first boy walked away and sat under a tree where he used his shoes as puppets to say that it wasn`t fair. He started wishing, “I wish I could be him”. Suddenly he found himself in the other boy`s body. He started smiling, because now he had what he wanted. Then a lady walked up with a wheelchair and helped him into the chair, and he realised that he’d wished himself into a body with legs that didn’t work, so this is why the shoes were like new. He started struggling to get out of that body. In the background, you could see the second boy in the first boy’s body running and shouting, rejoicing that he could walk!
Obviously, this is a fictitious story, but we can see that the first boy wasn’t content. When he could walk, he was sad and complaining because of his lack, and when he received what he wanted, he still wasn’t content, but wanted what he had previously. The second boy was content, peaceful, and cheerful, when he couldn’t walk, and was overjoyed when he could walk, even if his shoes had holes!
This is such a great reminder to us to be like Paul, who wrote in Philippians 4:12, ‘I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want’. Sometimes we spend so much time looking at what we lack that we can become overwhelmed with discontent. Sometimes we even have good intentions, praying about all that we’re lacking. But God wants us to focus on the good things He’s given to us and be content and thankful with what we have. Let’s learn to fear the Lord and rest content, untouched by trouble. Even if we have trouble, it will be as if it doesn’t touch us, because our focus will be on the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for those times when I’ve been discontented. Please help me to fear You and be content with all the good things that You’ve provided. AMen.
Tanya Person Tanya and her husband, Jim, were missionaries to Hungary for over 18 years. They have worked with Ellel since 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where they are now serving with the Ellel USA team. They have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom, and for mentoring the existing and developing team. Tanya also enjoys crocheting and knitting in her free time and has written some children’s picture books.
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