How did you get to where you are right now? Was it because you worked really hard? Because you studied in school, did all your homework, made sure to know what the teacher wanted?
Was it because you make all the right decisions, know the right people, are able to stay cool under pressure, are able to understand people?
Do you know how blessed you are to be where you are? What if you were born in a poor village in Africa where war and famine are a everyday occurance? Would all your hard work make you as successful as you are now?
Once you (and I’m speaking personally as well) start to think that you’re the reason you got to where you are right now, how could you ever have empathy for those who are not as successful as you? You couldn’t. Your thought process would be, “I worked hard to get where I am. If only these people took responsibility for they situation and stopped feeling sorry for themselves, and picked themselves up. Just work hard.”
But what if you knew that almost nothing you did got you to where you are. Oh sure, you worked hard, but who gave you that work ethic? Who allowed you to be born into a family, a country, that allowed you to pursue your dreams? Who gave you the talent to be able to do what you do?
You see, once we realize this, that it wasn’t us who got us to where we are, we can start to look at the world of those less fortunate a little bit different. We start to look at the world through eyes that have been changed, ones that see how incredibly blessed they are to be where they are right now. And because of this, makes us want to reach out to those who need help.
Because he reached out to us when we needed him. Because he stayed on that cross even when all the powers of heaven and hell rained down on him so that we may be blessed to be adopted into his family. To join the dance.
How blessed we are.
how true, Nate….
Thanks for the reminder. This is one of the most significant things for a Christian to ponder repeatedly throughout our lives. Helps us remain grateful. And we so often forget to be grateful……We ‘are’ because He did it all.
Remembering this truth keeps me humble…and challenged to use all that God has given me right where I am now – for His glory. It keeps my eyes focused, not on what someone else has, but what God has given me to use for His glory. Thanks for the reminder,my son.