Just recently, somebody I know approached me and kindly told me that I need to smile more. This gentleman is never without a smile, and his laugh makes everybody around him laugh; he is also a Vietnam veteran battling PTSD, and he is undergoing cancer treatment. His gentle rebuke put things in perspective like nothing else could.
I have so many reasons – more than I even know – to be thankful, but I so easily let my guard down when life gets a little difficult. All too often, my focus is on myself and my present circumstances. But how wrong is that! How ungrateful and shortsighted! I was saved from hell by a God who loves me unconditionally and perfectly; and when I lose focus of that, I am not being the representative for Christ that I should be.
I’m not saying that life isn’t hard; but if I am looking at myself when things get tough, I will miss out on the work He’s doing. I’m not ignoring the fact that people can be really difficult to deal with; but if my hurt is my focus, I’m going to miss out on the work God wants to do in my heart. If my circumstances are ruling me instead of God’s love, I’ve lost the opportunity to show the people around me what God looks like.
I want to have an eternal perspective – not to the extent that I am looking at the future with no cares about my present circumstances, but in the way that my perspective of this world is balanced by the eternity I will be spending in Heaven with my Savior. Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” In other words, I’m going to get to Heaven and forget all about my troubles because of how big and awesome God is.
Proclaiming His Goodness 
Yes, we our troubles will disappear.
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Keeping a cheery outward appearance can be difficult… and a little bit false. When I see you not smiling I know something is wrong and I have the opportunity to give a hug and encouragement. Acknowledging the pain is important, too. There will always be someone who’s worse off than you, and in a way that is a source of comfort, as you say, but there has to be a time when you recognize that you’re having a tough go and no amount of smiling is going to make that feel any better. But someone seeing your sad countenance can bring you the smile and lift you need. As the Body of Christ, we need each other and I feel that we need to be honest with one another, so that we can help each other. There is no community without shared “life”, if you know what I mean?
I guess it’s easy for me to write this now with what I am going through, but it struck me because as much as I try to smile my way through it, I don’t want to present a “Barbie” face to my family, ya know?
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I totally understand where you are coming from, I was afraid what I said would be taken that way. Grrr.
The last thing I want to be is fake and plastic; I just want to have a balanced perspective. This world and its sorrows and pleasures are temporary, so why should they be my entire focus? I know all this is easy for me to say now, but I think it’s an important attitude for me to cultivate. The most vibrant Christians I know are not fake at all, but they delight in God’s promises no matter what their circumstances are. That’s all I was trying to say, I’m sorry it came across to you like it did. I try not to be ‘preachy’, I just do my best to communicate what God has been teaching me. You and your family are in my prayers.
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