What’s Your Perspective?

Elaine Marie Cooper

With six simple words, a writer friend completely changed my perspective: “You have had a great year.”

A great year? I almost balked. Yes, it was so great that I had an infection that destroyed some of the bone in my leg, underwent two surgeries to repair the damage, spent six weeks in daily IV antibiotic infusions, spent days and weeks fighting anxiety, depression, and pain, and had to cancel three trips—one a much-anticipated book tour for my latest release. I fretted over numerous bills and an inability to work for weeks at a time. Great year?

But then I paused. What was she seeing that I was not? I began to reflect on my year

I watched with joy as my younger son married his precious wife. I was able to spend my grandchildren’s birthday with them before I discovered I needed surgery. I had two books release (one a re-release) and now look forward to the re-release of the third and final book in a trilogy. I obtained an agent. I grew closer with my social media friends as well as friends at church with whom I shared my struggles. When not on pain meds, I was able to write more deeply. I accomplished edits on three books. I had the elders at my church pray for me before my last surgery and I came through amazingly well. I graduated from physical therapy in less than a month.

In short…I not just survived…I thrived. With God’s help and the prayers of His people, it truly has been a great year.

So what about your year so far? Has it been all “gloom and doom” as I was viewing the events of this past year? Are you doing as I was and focusing on the negative?

Are you a writer who sees all of your inadequacies and perceived failures in the last year? Or have you tried to focus on your writing successes, however small you may think they are?

If there is one thing I’ve learned first hand this year as I’ve watched so many friends deal with so many struggles, we all have something—days we’d rather forget, pain that may or may not heal, disappointments that leave a void in our hearts. Yet if that is all we focus on, then we are missing the full story—the part that God wants us to dwell upon.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

The God of peace has been with me. That deems it a great year.

Anxiety/ Fear sign courtesy of Stuart Miles, via freedigitalphotos.net

Peace card courtesy of digitalart, via freedigitalphotos.net