How is my attitude?

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

This verse was shared with me a few weeks ago, and it has been very convicting. Often, I have thought of my light as being my actions…the “good works” that I am doing. However, I have come to realize that my attitude is really what makes the lasting impact with my family, those around me and for the Lord.

Actions are a necessary means to service, but the light that shines through me as I work for the Lord is my attitude. Christ asked in the Sermon on the Mount: how are you to be salt in the world (bring others to taste the goodness of the Lord) if you have lost your flavor? In turn, how am I to be the light that brings others to Christ when my attitude is dark and negative?

A few years ago, I was keeping children in our home for a little extra income. One particularly challenging day, Matt called to check on me and give encouragement. I began to go down the list of kids (including my own!) and tell him about the bad day each was having. In a very humble voice, Matt so sweetly suggested that perhaps the problem was ME. (I can laugh now, but you know how that probably went over at the time.) After I prayed about it, I realized that as the person in charge of the home during the day, I was setting the tone. The only person I could change was ME. The type of day I was having was only determined by ME.

I have given myself many excuses: "I am not a pessimist…just a realist"; "I am just stating facts"; "I'm just in a difficult place right now"... I think I am beginning to own up to the fact that it really doesn’t matter, and if I need to explain myself, I am likely not shining in a way that “encourages others to love and good works”. (Hebrews 10:24) Only a change in my attitude will allow me to be the light that I have been called to be.

I recently read this quote from Charles Swindoll:

"The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church..a home. The remarkable thing is we have a CHOICE every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our ATTITUDES."

Wow, I have finally found the one thing of which I can be in charge!
AT