We invested in a 12” stainless steel sauté pan as a gift for our son, who has a passion for cooking. When trying a high-heat technique he found online for the very first use, he set off the smoke alarm as soon as he dropped the meat into the pan. Besides ruining a good steak instantly, he scorched his shiny new pan. Though he scrubbed with all the right things, black stains remain.

 

For my book launch, I ordered beautiful Finding the Gift mugs, but not very many. I allotted one for my personal use and started using it as my new favorite coffee and tea mug. In less than thirty days, I dropped it and the handle broke off. I was bummed but couldn’t bring myself to throw it away. I decided it was still good for something, so I made it my bathroom water cup. My son walked into our bathroom the other day, saw the broken mug and jokingly said, "So what’s the gift in that?"

 

I got to thinking. I would not be using my favorite mug as a bathroom water cup if it hadn’t broken. Though it's missing the handle, I enjoy seeing the design and the colors I love every time I walk into our bathroom. I use it way more than before. It’s still beautiful to me and every bit as functional. 

 

Then I thought about our son’s pan. He was especially disappointed because it was a gift and felt like he had ruined his pan. I’m not convinced we can’t get it back to looking like new, but even if we can’t, it’s a quality pan and will serve him for many years, stains or no stains.

 

Circumstances and relationships change and may not always look like we wanted them to. Something may become less ideal than before, but that doesn’t mean all is lost and that thing, relationship or situation can no longer provide value in our lives.

 

Our joy is found when we can let go of all or nothing thinking and recognize and be grateful that our deeper, more significant needs are often still being met, one way or another.

 

I’ve said before in FTG, what if we could see things not as good or bad but simply acknowledge this is how they are today? Tomorrow, things might change and that’s the way it will be tomorrow. We’ll have everything we need, when we need it, even if it’s not everything we want, exactly the way we want it. We can make the best of any given day, any particular circumstance, if we choose to find the gift. 

 

For today, let’s ask ourselves a few questions regarding any thing, situation or relationship that is less than ideal:

Remember, gifts are always waiting to be found if we are willing to look at our situations from a different angle. A transformational perspective is only one intention away. Consider how everything is still okay and you will be right.