Sunday 18 August 2013

Mirror, Mirror

When I stepped out from the shower, I stood in front of the window and inspected my baby bump. I feel a rush of happiness knowing that my son has been growing inside my tummy, but at the same time also noticed the changes in curves that pregnancy has brought.

These days I don't feel as attractive as I used to be - I used to be rather slim, and therefore always wear figure hugging clothes. Nowadays my appearance changes as my body does.

Sometimes I find it hard to grapple with the changes in looks, but then most of the time I am so so happy about our son. Happy about the expanding belly. Happy about the changes my body is making to feed our son when he comes. I am experiencing so much joy - and that would not have been possible if I keep thinking about myself only.

That brings to mind a scripture in the Bible -

John 12:24

New International Version (NIV)
24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.


From being single to being married and being a mother, my life is less and less just about myself. To love, honour and cherish my husband, and to love and nurture our son have come to occupy all of me for most of the time. But my life has never been richer before all because I have allowed God to lead me to live a more self-less life, one step at a time.

That also makes me reflect on success in life.


Proverbs 27:19

New International Version (NIV)
19 As water reflects the face,
    so one’s life reflects the heart.



When we only live for our own ambition, desire and pride, we make choices differently and our life reflects the series of choices we make. At the same time, when we have chosen to be a blessing to those around us, the tapestry of our life reflects the matrix of choices we have come to make, too.

Ironically I have found that it is the people who have chosen the latter one that seems to always enjoy clarity and peace in life. Apart from the promises in Bible, I think it is the simple fact that when you have only your desires/thoughts as your guidance, confusion comes. It is like the blind leading the blind. How happy is happy enough? How clever is clever enough? How rich is rich enough? More and more frustration and darkness come to the soul that is trapped within oneself.

However, when we have chosen to be a blessing to those around us - all within the premises of loving ourselves as God loves us too - it opens up our eyes to the people around us, to the world, and within its context we come to know who we are. We deploy our resources and time wisely because we observe what a difference it makes on those around us, which is a more objective and reliable means than just my own whims and desires. And economically it also means 'business' - your needs, aspirations and resources just bounce off with the people you connect with. It means that our talents are more fully actualised utilised in this world to bring great fulfilment.

I love looking into the mirror - the mirror of my life and know where my heart is. Our bodies may grow older and change everyday, but may the fruits of our lives always bring us joy and fulfilment, with the grace of God.





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