I
remember well an insight I received while reading a blog post many years ago.
The man who had written the words that were burned into my heart and
brain the moment I read them had no idea the impact his words had on me. (Thankfully,
I did get the opportunity to tell him, much later on!)
In the post, he wrote about what was going on as his
brother battled cancer. He wrote, “I have to do [thus and so] for him today.”
But the writer immediately corrected himself, saying, “I get to do [thus and
so] for him today.” I don’t recall whether the writer explained the huge
difference in “have to” and “get to” but I saw it and resolved to avoid saying
(and feeling) that I “have to” do this or that. For example, instead of saying,
“I have to unload the dishwasher,” I will learn to say, “I get to unload the
dishwasher.”
Now, that’s not a job I look forward to, but by
changing from “I have to” to “I get to” my attitude shifts from negative to positive.
Saying, “I get to” reminds me to be thankful for so many things: that I have
dishes to use, that those dishes were filled with food and drink, that family
members and I enjoyed meals together as we “dirtied” the dishes, that I have
a dishwasher, that I have clean (and hot) water in which to wash them, that I
am physically able to do household chores, that I am living in my own home….
Dear Reader, do you see how what appears to be a simple
word change makes an ENORMOUS difference in our attitude? If you do see it,
then resolve with me to banish “I have to” from all conversations.
Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
