WHAT IF?
I am thinking of the story of Mary and Martha found in the Bible in Luke 10. (Whether or not you consider yourself Christian or particularly religious, the teachings of Jesus, as with any great teacher, can be applicable to anybody who sees things in a spiritual or higher way).
Luke 10:38 ¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
It's interesting wording that Jesus used. What was the one needful thing?
I believe that it had to do with being truly present. In another part of the Bible it tells more information about what Mary was doing that bent Martha out of shape (and incidentally, Simon, as well). She was rubbing oil on Jesus's feet and enjoying the limited time that she had with him.
Worrying or being careful and troubled about many things, is a habit that robs us of peace. We can worry about what we have or haven't done in the past. This is often expressed in regret. What if I wasn't a good enough mother for example? What if I majorly messed up in my life and I could have done better? What if I am not even a good person? What if there's nothing I could even do to make things right regarding my mistakes of the past?
What ifs, too, can be focused on the nebulous future. "What if I will not be prepared for perilous times in the future?" "What if things just get worse and worse politically and we become so divided as a nation that things get really bad?" What if I have some horrible disease with prolonged suffering?" "What if I never overcome my own issues that are troubling me and I always feel overwhelmed?"
Thankfully, what ifs are not always negative. We can look, for instance, to our past with gratitude in our hearts and say "what if everything that happened in my past helped me to learn what I came to this life to learn? "What if it has all been a necessary part of becoming the best version of myself?" What if I did a lot of right and good things that did help a lot of people?" "What if God thinks of me as an amazing beautiful loving person?" "What if I am overcoming my issues more than I know and am learning to truly walk by faith?"
As we see the good, the effect is that it focuses us more on the present. It helps us to enjoy now. It even causes us to enjoy and experience the fruits of our labors more fully.
"What if!" Just two very powerful words. What if we can change our what ifs in a powerful way to honor who we really are? What if you are right now on your own road of true liberty of soul?
I am thinking of the story of Mary and Martha found in the Bible in Luke 10. (Whether or not you consider yourself Christian or particularly religious, the teachings of Jesus, as with any great teacher, can be applicable to anybody who sees things in a spiritual or higher way).
Luke 10:38 ¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
It's interesting wording that Jesus used. What was the one needful thing?
I believe that it had to do with being truly present. In another part of the Bible it tells more information about what Mary was doing that bent Martha out of shape (and incidentally, Simon, as well). She was rubbing oil on Jesus's feet and enjoying the limited time that she had with him.
Worrying or being careful and troubled about many things, is a habit that robs us of peace. We can worry about what we have or haven't done in the past. This is often expressed in regret. What if I wasn't a good enough mother for example? What if I majorly messed up in my life and I could have done better? What if I am not even a good person? What if there's nothing I could even do to make things right regarding my mistakes of the past?
What ifs, too, can be focused on the nebulous future. "What if I will not be prepared for perilous times in the future?" "What if things just get worse and worse politically and we become so divided as a nation that things get really bad?" What if I have some horrible disease with prolonged suffering?" "What if I never overcome my own issues that are troubling me and I always feel overwhelmed?"
Thankfully, what ifs are not always negative. We can look, for instance, to our past with gratitude in our hearts and say "what if everything that happened in my past helped me to learn what I came to this life to learn? "What if it has all been a necessary part of becoming the best version of myself?" What if I did a lot of right and good things that did help a lot of people?" "What if God thinks of me as an amazing beautiful loving person?" "What if I am overcoming my issues more than I know and am learning to truly walk by faith?"
As we see the good, the effect is that it focuses us more on the present. It helps us to enjoy now. It even causes us to enjoy and experience the fruits of our labors more fully.
"What if!" Just two very powerful words. What if we can change our what ifs in a powerful way to honor who we really are? What if you are right now on your own road of true liberty of soul?
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