Keeping Your Focus

Growing up I was a terrible passenger.  As a young child I was plagued with car sickness.  It was bad!  I have way too many memories of my mom having to pull over on the side of the road because I was going to be sick.  I remember one day in particular my mom was driving and my grandmother was in the car with us.  I had given my mom the warning.  I’m getting car sick!   My grandmother told me to look ahead as far as I could, where everything was completely still.  Don’t look to the right or left she said, just focus your eyes as far as you can to what is still and she promised it would settle my stomach.  She was right.  Her words of wisdom that day not only saved me from a miserable trip, but provided me with an invaluable solution that I have literally used the rest of my life.

When I think about my grandmother’s advice that day, I’m reminded of a father’s wise instruction from Proverbs chapter 4.  Verses 25-26 tell us “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.  Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.  Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”  I’ve often wondered if my grandmother’s words that day were imparted to me because of her deep roots into the word of God?  Did she realize she was practically quoting Proverbs to help cure my carsickness?  Either way the advice she passed along continues to hold true.  With so many things to divert our attention these days, I am reminded of the wisdom from Proverbs and the advice of my grandmother, focus your gaze on what is straight ahead, don’t swerve to the right or the left, and the results continue to provide a settling deep within my soul.

Natalie Morris

Spring Hill, TN