Sometimes the most beautiful things in life that have the biggest impact on the future appear small and insignificant.
Several years ago, Joyce Meyer received a letter from a viewer who just had to tell her the story of Marge—I just gave her that name because it sounds fun. Anyway, Marge was legally blind and every morning of her life she would get up, dress beautifully, fix her hair and apply makeup. This morning was no different, except that after she got ready, she stepped into a stranger’s car and drove to a nursing home. Her husband of many years had passed away and her family decided that she had to move into an assisted living facility. When she arrived, her room was not ready so she spent several hours just sitting in the reception area with a smile on her face.
As the afternoon progressed, the letter writer went to meet Marge and escort her to her new room. She had gone from a large, lovely home and was about to spend the rest of her days in a 10×10 room. She couldn’t wait. With exuberance, Marge asked the lady to describe the room as they walked. “It is a square room with lace curtains,” said the worker. “I love it!” Marge exclaimed! “What?” the worker replied, “you haven’t even been in the room yet.” Marge looked at her with her rheumy eyes and said, “I made up my mind weeks ago that I was going to love it.”
Marge knew the simple truth of life. We choose to be joyful.
Millions of people around the world have been impacted by Marge’s simple story. If you ever visit the dementia floor of an assisted living facility, you will see a few women who have the most beautiful posture. As their friends sit hunched over, they walk as if they are training for a beauty pageant with a book on their head. Even though they may not remember where they live, their muscles remember a lifetime of correction to constantly stand and sit erect. They chose to focus on a small thing every day of their life and it has become so ingrained in them that even the horrors of dementia cannot erase it.
What are you focused on and practicing each day?
I was cruising through 2 Timothy the other day when I came across this gem. Paul (Biblical superhero) is writing a letter of encouragement to Timothy. You know, Timothy who co-authored six books of the Bible, carried out many important missions and was Paul’s faithful friend. Anyway, Paul writes:
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now also lives in you. 2 Tim 1:5
I don’t know about you, but there are times that I look at my day/week/month/year and think, “I have done nothing to impact the Kingdom of God.” I could really get into a slump and compare myself to others—“I’m not on a church staff like xx, I’m not going to Estonia like my daughter, I’m not…”
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
I could compare, OR I could be like Marge who daily chose joy, or the perfect posture ladies who—following this metaphor—daily had relationship with the Lord. I could be like Lois or Eunice who lived in sincere faith. Each of these ladies may or may not have ever been publicly recognized as “superheroes” of the church, but their quiet faithfulness laid the groundwork for millions of people to know the Lord.
As you enter this New Year, KNOW that you are God’s Workmanship and and you are doing His “good works” as you daily choose joy and deepen your faith in the One. Your actions and demeanor speak volumes to those around you and the Lord is using you in ways you may never know.
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Tim 1:6-7
After all, where would our world be without Lois, Eunice, Marge and … YOU?
-deanna duncan
Deanna is a wife, mom and business owner
who adores those first few moments of the day
when the house is quiet and you can truly focus
on the Word of God. She also enjoys alliterations
and a fabulous long run–especially if there are trees.
