Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. [Philippians 4:8 (MSG)]

I remember playing a game called “What’s Wrong with this Picture?” with my children when they got their Highlights™ magazine. We’d look at a drawing and try to spot all of the weird and wacky things that didn’t belong in the picture. Sometimes, we continue to play that game as adults but, instead of looking for oddities, we simply seek out everything that seems wrong.

As I recover from my foot surgery, I have to remain off my feet as much as possible. That means giving up all sorts of domestic duties to my patient and loving husband. This reversal of roles has required an attitude adjustment on both our parts. Although he is at my beck and call, I know better than to abuse my role as patient (especially since he will soon have surgery and our roles will be reversed!)

This morning, I looked around the house and saw all sorts of things “wrong.” Fortunately, before I opened my mouth, I pondered the meaning of “wrong.” Certain things like adultery, theft and murder are clearly wrong. Certain things, like faithfulness, tithing, and compassion are clearly right. There are, however, a great many things that are neither exactly right nor wrong and they’re certainly not worth getting one’s undies in a bunch. These things include a tablecloth that is askew, dust on the tables, and crumbs on the countertop. There are even more things that are simply “wrong” because I have arbitrarily defined what is “right.” While my “right” includes towels that are folded in thirds, throw pillows always attractively arranged on the bed, and smoothies made with almonds and flaxseed, not everyone agrees!

We must  accept the disappointing truth that we are far from perfect. Moreover, the world around us isn’t perfect and, in spite of our best efforts, it’s never going to be. Finally, we need to remember it’s likely our definition of “perfect” or even “correct” has little to do with anyone else’s definitions of those words.

Jesus was the only perfect person and something tells me that things like less than stellar housekeeping or food not prepared his favorite way didn’t concern him. Unlike the Pharisees who spent much of their time deciding what was “wrong,” He was much more concerned with issues like love, compassion, healing, truth, righteousness and salvation. When He saw what was undoubtedly wrong, like the money changers at the temple, He reacted. When He saw the woman at the well, however, He didn’t see a woman who was wrong; He lovingly saw a soul to be saved and offered love and forgiveness.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for those who help us in our daily walk and offer their loving care. Give us appreciative hearts and voices. Stop us when we are tempted to complain, whine, or correct what truly doesn’t need correction. Give us the eyes and heart of Jesus and the discernment to know what is truly important in life.

A happy home is one in which each spouse grants the possibility that the other may be right, though neither believes it. [Don Fraser]

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. [Ephesians 5:1-2 (MSG)]