This recent Facebook status of mine drew so many comments and over 100 “likes”. So, I thought I’d post it here to get your reaction.
“Answering Facebook messages while hearing a most wonderful sound drifting in from the family room—my husband doing a Bible study with our 16 year-old son. The man can’t remember to pick me up milk & eggs or what I said to him yesterday ….twice!!! However, he loves God & is so intentional to show our kids how to live for Him. I’ll take the forgetfulness. It is soooo cancelled out by his sincere faith.”
Ever focus on only the parts of a child, spouse or other necessary person in your life that bug the living tar right out of you?
Susie is so late all the time.
Mike simply cannot make up his mind.
Kim is so shy, it embarrasses me.
When is Austin EVER gonna learn to keep his room picked up?
I am so guilty of looking at others’ faults with a ginormous magnifying glass, making them grow ever larger to the point where I choose to let them bother me.
And make me behave badly.
My faults, however? Oh, I’d need a high-powered telescope to spot them since I think they are miniscule and so very, very hard to spot! (Yes, I know this is nowhere near true!)
I have become convicted lately about this upside down and totally unfair measuring stick. Especially when it comes to my hubby and kids.
I can pick out a “non-strength” (a nicer way to say fault?) of theirs so easily while ignoring my own glaring imperfections and bad habits.
How about today, instead of finding fault, let’s find fantastic?
Name a person in your life (if leaving it in the comments, please don’t actually name them!) Think of one fantastic quality they have. Something you may overlook at times ’cause you are so stinkin’ focused on their faults.
Everyone is a unique blend of fault and fantastic.
Let’s focus on the fantastic.
It just may make the faults harder to spot.
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Wow! How on-target
I’m soooo guilty of this, and saw the same behavior in my teenager this morning – yikes! I’m making a commitment to work on this. Have a blessed day!
Wonderful!! Karen will be thrilled to read that her post spoke to you like that.
Many blessings to you and your family.
Karen thank you for the reminder to look for the FANTASTIC in those around us. I love it!
NO MATTER HOW BAD IT GETS HUBBY IS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME. IN THE VERY BAD TIMES I KNOW I CAN COUNT ON HIM. HE IS NY ROCK. I PRAISE GOD FOR HIM
Wonderful, Kay!
Oh my. I am so guilty. I bristle up as soon as I walk in the door most days from work because my child is such a messmaker and she’s 22!!! I am challenged today and pray that God will close my eyes to the mess and open them to the huge heart she has for her friends and her 17 month old son, her excitement about the small things in life and her beautiful laugh. I pray for her growth as a responsible parent and her relationship with God. Thanks for helping me shut my eyes to the things that annoy me and open them to the beautiful person that she is.
I’m guilty of this, too.
It’s a great post.
I am so very guilty of this. It becomes a habit that is so hard to break. The words come out and you know they are hurtful – but they just keep on coming out. Two things that really hurt: 1) When my husband says I can forgive easier and act nicer to people outside our family (big ouch) and 2) when I see my two daughters not concentrating on the goodness in each other but finding fault. And my words go unnoticed because I preach one thing and do another. Pray for me!!! I have a tremendous husband and beautiful daughters whose hearts are as beautiful as their smiles.
Ah…great words. I so relate. Thanks for sharing!
Darn…you must be seeing my heart! Oh I have been so convicted of this lately. My perspective is so off. But I tell you the good news, God is just not letting this one go. He wants to do a mighty work in me (in us!) on this one. So much of my thinking has to be shifted from negative to positive…from ingratitude to thankfulness. I love the scripture in Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
When I think about such things regarding my hubby and kids, I see the good and minimize those little annoyances. Such a happier way to live!!
Okay…let’s try this. Blank is such a caring, compassionate young woman. I admire her strength of character…and love her very very much!
FOr me, “blank” is my husband. LOL
Thanks for sharing!
My DD is so touchy-feely, in a good way. Always wanting to sit next to you, lean on you or hug you. Alot of times I want to push her away because I just want to be left alone after a long day, but then I remember that one day she won’t be with me and I’ll long for a cuddle on the couch.
It does go so fast, doesn’t it, Kay? Thanks for the reminder.
My husband is totally–in every way– the polar opposite of myself. His little habbits and patterns of speach drive me up the wall.
HOWEVER, when we met I was a broken “throw away”. He scooped me up and has helpped me carry the bagage, from a disfunctional home, until I finally allowed the Lord Jesus Christ to enter all those rooms in my heart. Jesus took all the hurt and pain and placed a ray of Son shine in the darkness. Now I have the confidence to speak the name of Jesus everywhere I go. I have the confidence to speak truth to others who are delusional. Jesus used Chuck to be my sounding board, and my confident. He is now attempting to grow in the Lord.
The enemy’s sole puropse is to defeat us. And he uses all of us if we allow him to do so. So I say, ‘As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord!”
Beautiful testimony, Carla!
For all the things that make me crazy about him, I have to say that my husband is a wonderful dad. He’s very hands on, even and especially with our daughter, which since he grew up with only brothers I know he saw little interaction about from which to learn. He’s the kind of dad to her that I wish my dad had been to me.
Precious. I love hearing that. We aren’t relegated to repeating the patterns we witnessed. AMEN.
My son has the sweetest heart. Sometimes it is hard to see this under the rebellious exterior (God is removing this!!), but it is there. He wrote his sister a letter and told her that she was becoming such a beautiful young woman and that he was proud to be her big brother. You guessed it–I cried!!
I would have cried, too!!!!
Wow. Great perspective! I struggle lately with finding “fault” with my preschool age daughter. She is, well, different, than most kids. Call it sprited, strong willed (or ADD? Who knows at this point?) I become embarassed by her behavior and think it would be so much easier (for me) if she was “one of those easy kids.” How yucky! I need to focus on her positive qualities and learn to be the type of parent she needs. Love her for who she is.
I understand where you’re coming from Meg. And you’re right–have to love her for who she is. Not always easy…
*hugs*
This message is so timely as my teenagers just began summer break from public school. I am hopeful to involve them in simple household chores to help in maintaining our home, and anticipate bumping into their social calendars and activities with friends. It is often tempting to say too much in my effort to enlist their help, which ends up not benefiting any of us. Attitude is everything and when my disposition is pleasant and stress-less as I solicit their help and instruct them, their response and follow-through is delightful and I make sure to acknowledge their help with words of praise.
AHHHH this is so true. I do this. Great point!!
I am a fault-finder! Especially during the summer when the boys and I are home together – all day, every day! Or when I am tired and worn down. However, I am so grateful that my husband is even tempered and calm; my older son is kind hearted and a reader; and that my younger son is loving and imaginative!
My husband has a knack for completing whatever his current mission is (i.e., replacing missing or broken screens for our windows, figuring out how to troubleshoot our stressing lawn, replacing caulk that has been ineffective for months, etc.) He is also a great teacher to our 9-year old daughter. He teaches so it is simple to grasp the steps or ideas. He teaches her steps for making the bed, cleaning her room, teaches her about the world around us, and about scientific things like why does helium make a balloon float? He is a good man, husband, dad and provider!