Stop And Smell The Roses
By Allan E. McNabb

Some years ago, I was driving through beautiful mountains.  The person with me lived in the mountains in which we were traveling, and I asked, “What is it like to live in a beautiful place?”

The answer surprised me, as he explained how he had got used to living in the mountains — he  didn’t pay attention anymore.

Pay Attention
Since that day, I’ve been careful.  I try to stay out of the trap of ignoring God’s blessings.  I try to pay attention to the good things around me, and smell the roses.

When we are aware of God’s blessings in our life, it helps us in many ways.

Be Thankful
When we stop and smell the roses, we’re reminded of God’s blessings.  We think about the good things God is doing in our lives, rather than our troubles.  We view life from a glass-half-full perspective, rather than a glass-half-empty perspective.

Our thankfulness is then reflected in our prayers, as well as every aspect of our life.  We “rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks” (1 Th. 5:16-18).

Be Positive
A positive attitude results from smelling the roses.

If anyone had a reason to have a negative attitude, it was the apostle Paul. He had been in prison, beaten, scourged, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, and poor.  But through all this, he remained positive — he focused on good things rather than bad things.

Paul had “learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need” (Phil. 4:12).  “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,” he proclaimed to the Philippians, and everyone who observed his life (Phil. 4:13).

Paul’s attitude was, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28).  Paul knew that God used everything in his life for good, even when suffering greatly for the cause of Christ.

Our challenge is to believe in God, that He works all things together for good to those who love Him — no matter what happens.

Enjoy Life
God is the One from whom all our blessings come — “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (Ja. 1:17).

As the giver of all our blessings, God teaches us to enjoy them while doing good — “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Tim. 6:17-18).

Smell the Roses
So we should stop and smell the roses, paying attention to God’s many blessings in our life.  This will help us be thankful and positive people, enjoying life as God’s children.

When’s the last time you stopped and smelled the roses?