Early this morning, my youngest son, Waylan (9), explained to me that the bathroom at his Dad’s house has two mirrors, each facing each other, which produces a bizarre fun-house effect of infinite reflections.
Hearing his account transported me back several years to my own youth. Summers at my Grandparent’s house outside of Willard, Missouri. Their home had one bathroom at the time, it was a long galley-type bathroom, with cheerful yellow and ornamental gold accents.
I always felt like it was fit for a princess. I adopted it as my own when I stayed with my Grandparents every summer as a young girl.
One side of the bathroom had a long countertop with a sink in the middle. Behind the sink was a full-size mirror taking up the whole wall above the counter. On the opposite side of the sink was another long counter, the exact duplicate of that on the sink wall (minus a sink).
This counter also had a full-size mirror behind the countertop, which produced the most mystically endless reflection I had ever seen.
I remember being absolutely fascinated and intrigued as a young girl, staring intently into one mirror, while seeing the never-ending layers of reflection staring back at me, from the mirror at my back.
It appeared that my image stretched into infinity. A thought that both excited, and somewhat terrified, my younger little girl self.
Reflecting upon my life, I can see how each experience, each season of joy, sorrow, pain, and celebration, each relationship has functioned as one of those infinite layers of reflection, such as those mirrored images I recall from my youth in my Grandparent’s bathroom.
It has been said that the closest relationships we experience in this life serve as reflections of our own unique personas; the good, the bad, the ugly, and of course, the beautiful.
As much as it hurts when a close loved one calls us out on a less-than-positive trait, it is those ‘Come to Jesus’ difficult conversations that have the most impact on our lives.
When we find ourselves knocking heads with a partner, it is often a sign that the struggle we see in another, is a distinct reflection of something absent, or in need of direct attention, in…wait for it…ourselves.
I am definitely a sensitive individual. I do not accept any sort of critique with an open mind or heart.
However, the older I get, the more selective I am with those I allow into my inner circle. If those special folks care enough to call me out on areas in which I need improvement, rather than turn a blind eye, I now see it as a blessed gift.
A gift that, if taken seriously and given adequate consideration, can lead to positive changes and a season of growth I had no clue was even necessary.
“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.“
proverbs 12:15 niv
This epiphany, a lightbulb moment of reflection, if you will, has taught me to welcome the reflections staring back at me.
Open my heart to the layers of transformation, growth, and transcendence that comes from the difficulties (also known as hidden blessings) that pop up in relationships, tragedies, heartaches, and seasons of change.
It could be that the struggle you are fighting so diligently to overcome, simply warrants a reflection deep within your soul, which can produce a beautiful change of perspective and open a whole new world of infinite possibility.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
proverbs 1:7
Pay attention to those reflections, in whatever way they present themselves.
If handled with grace, maturity, and an open mind, they could possibly catapult you into the most fulfilling season of your life.
