As we usher in the new year, it’s important to take a little time to reflect on the year that has just passed. But it’s equally important not to dwell on the negative! Whether this past year was amazing or whether it was one where you faced a lot of hardships, making a quick list of things you had to be grateful for can be a helpful reminder of God’s blessings. And the following story about how much a glass of water weighs perfectly reminds us why it’s important not to dwell! I just love this good modern day parable about dwelling!
The modern day parable about dwelling was shared on Facebook, and it goes like this:
How Much Does a Glass of Water Weigh? A Modern Day Parable about Dwelling
A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water everyone expected they would be asked the "Half empty or half full" question.
Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 8 ounces to 20 ounces.
The woman replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed-incapable of doing anything."
Remember to put the glass down.
Have you been carrying around a glass of water for a while now? Maybe it’s time to put it down!
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Bible Verses About Dwelling on the Past
Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 43:18-1918 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
credit: Facebook
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