“Man
in the Mirror…”
"Man in the Mirror" is a song made popular
by Michael Jackson and written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. Jackson's
recording was produced by Quincy Jones and co-produced by Jackson. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_in_the_Mirror
Many of us are very familiar with the lyrics. The
chorus is as follows:
I'm
Starting With The Man In
The
Mirror
I'm
Asking Him To Change
His
Ways
And
No Message Could Have
Been
Any Clearer
If
You Wanna Make The World
A
Better Place
Take
A Look At Yourself, And
Then
Make A Change…
As I grow older and wiser, life keeps revealing to
me areas that I must work on myself. In order to grow, it is imperative to be
honest…brutally honest… with myself regarding areas in which I need to
surrender to God to truly fulfill His purpose for me.
It is so easy for us to judge others…to discuss
their shortcomings, imperfections or failure to rise to our expectations of
them. Yet, we rarely make the same assessment of ourselves.
I constantly see on Facebook people making harsh,
judgmental and down-right mean comments about others. What is interesting is
that the same could be said of them. Many spew this out, yet profess to be a
Christian and to love others. I often “shake my head” in amazement wondering “Are
we reading the same Bible?” How do they reconcile this?
Those who so eagerly criticize others make it quite
obvious that they are not reflecting on themselves.
Working on oneself is extremely difficult. It
requires you to be vulnerable to what is and to strive to see life as God would
have us to…not as our human eyes do.
Case
in Point:
I have been “licking my wounds” regarding negative
things said about me behind my back. Yet, as I reflect on this, I am reminded by
this quote:
“Don’t
tell me what they said about me…Tell me why they were so comfortable saying it
to you.” – Jay-Z
I am forced to reflect on how much “gossip” and
negative talk I have allowed others to feel comfortable sharing with me. It has
forced me to reconsider my actions, forgive myself and focus on sharpening my
own integrity and character.
The Bible directs us:
2
Timothy 2:15 (NKJV): Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth.
Romans
2:21 (NKJV): You, therefore, who teach another, do
you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you
steal?
Titus
2:7 (NKJV): in all things showing yourself to be a
pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence,
incorruptibility,
2
Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV): Examine yourselves as to whether
you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus
Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Galatians
6:4 (NKJV): But let each one examine his own work,
and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Memorable
Quotes:
“Everyone
thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo
Tolstoy
“Don’t expect to see a change if you don’t make one.”
– unknown
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” –
Gandhi
“Don’t become
too preoccupied with what is happening around you. Pay more attention to what is going on within
you.” – Mary Francis Winters
“How people
treat other people is a direct reflection of how they feel about themselves.” –
unknown
“Many people would be scared if they saw in the
mirror, not their faces – but their character.” – unknown
“Everything that irritates us about others, can lead
us to an understanding of ourselves.” – unknown
“Some people
are brought into your life to be mirrors, to show you behaviors and habits that
you need to change.” – unknown
"Attract what you expect, reflect what you
desire, become what you respect, mirror what you admire." – unknown
Dealing
with oneself is probably the most difficult yet rewarding endeavor any of us
could ever aspire. Shall We?
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