Hello everyone. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my blog. I am so grateful. Today, I would like to talk about perspective. I would like to challenge us to take time out and reflect on the perspective we have about our own lives and the lives of our children. Let me start with a little bit of background.
As I was driving one day last week, I heard an advertisement on a christian radio station that was talking about a 15th century painting done by Filippino Lippi entitled the Virgin and Child with Saint Jerome and Dominic. This painting shows the virgin Mary cradling Jesus and two saints praying before them. What is interesting about the picture is that the background and the two saints look as though they may topple out of the picture. The criticism of this painting was not dismissed until Robert Cummings, an art critic, realised that the painting was never meant to be hung in a gallery, it was intended to be an aid to prayer. Filippino Lippi meant for the viewer to see the painting in a kneeling position. WOW.
Perspective is everything. Looking straight on, the painting loses its effect. From the kneeling position, as it was intended to be seen, you can fully grasp the intention of the painting. What in our lives are we seeing head on from a standing position instead of a kneeling position as God intended us to be?
I find that sometimes, as Christians, we see things from the wrong perspective. We try to understand things from mere human eyes. Proverbs 3:5 says “lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Our own understanding, our own perspective will fail us every time. So I challenge you, as I also challenge myself, to ask ourselves what perspective are we seeing our autistic children. Am I seeing Jayson as his difficulties, his challenges or am I seeing him as who God created, in His perfect image? In order to build my endurance, to build my faith, to grow my persistence in prayers, for me to also want and need to be in HIS presence, to never stop seeking HIM in my daily decisions. No matter what it may be, I must TRUST HIM! Let’s make sure we are seeing our children from the right perspective…on our hands and knees.
Love you all
God bless you,
M.J.