About the Author

Now graduated from her role as a homeschooling mom of 8, Dawn Camp devotes her time and love of stories to writing her first novel. She enjoys movie nights, cups of Earl Grey, and cheering on the Braves. She and her husband navigate an ever-emptying nest in the Atlanta suburbs.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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    • It does, right? And that is not instinctively where we put ourselves. Yesterday morning I struggled with a situation where—like you said—I’d put myself in the middle. I needed our Sunday morning sermon to wake me up and shift my perspective.

  1. Dawn,
    What a great and convicting question to chew on! Does my perspective line up with scripture? This makes me think of Philippians 4:8… Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…. How many times does my perspective focus on the negative, the what’s in it for me, the worst possible outcome? I know it’s human nature, but I need to put it up against scripture and if it doesn’t line up, then it’s a clear sign my attitude and perspective needs changing. Awesome post and question, Dawn. Blessings to your friends for the hard role they fill and to your incredible son!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Thank you, Bev. I asked my friend if I could use her story, without the names, and she generously said yes. I’m glad my son played a positive part in it. I can learn from that boy sometimes.

  2. This was powerful and what I needed to help me redirect my thoughts and focus from the areas I deem weak about my life. Today I chose to have a different perspective.

  3. Dawn,

    You have an incredible son!! More people should view life from an eternal perspective. We need to be more fervent in our praying. Human nature says life isn’t fair. If we focused solely on the bad & not the good we can be discouraged. Praying about situations can help change our focus. What does it matter the type of work & pay you get? Be thankful for what God is providing & use the opportunity to bless others. Like Bev said we need to think on what is true, right, pure, noble, etc. God can help get us into a right attitude.

    Blessings 🙂

  4. Thank you for that profound insight, Dawn. I strive to make my prayer time more about God and less about needs and me, but it is all too easy to bog down in me-me-itis. By sincerely praying (positively) for the “other party”, we will experience spiritual growth, discover a renewed purpose and inner peace and satisfaction.

  5. Thank you for this timely message. Yesterday was Sunday. Finally a chance to exhale and spend some quiet time with God. As I sat reading a Bible study, I was almost launched out of my chair by a startle reflex. There was an incredible boom outside my backyard. We live in the country, and my yard is surrounded with towering trees and thick undergrowth. I stepped out onto my back deck to listen and see if I could discern what the boom had been. I yelped as several more booms occurred, but this time I knew what it was. My new neighbors who live near the road had come to the back of their 5 acres, which is adjacent to my backyard, and were firing some amazingly robust firearms. My dogs cowered in the house, refusing to come out. I hoped and prayed that they weren’t drinking and knew about basic firearm safety. This activity went on for hours. It is not illegal where we live to discharge firearms on your property. I could not see them for the trees. And they could not see me. I was so angry as I realized my new neighbors are firearm enthusiasts. Has my sweet paradise where I spend time with God and studying His word come to an end? I thought of many ways to make my point. Doing things that would annoy them and make their horses nervous, etc. But God laid on my heart that perhaps trying a bit of hospitality and inviting them to a barbeque in the backyard might be more effective. Rather than a nuisance, this might actually be an opportunity to reach out to my new neighbors with an open heart and an open door. I have decided this is what I will do. I don’t know if it will work, but I will pray that it does. Please pray for me in this endeavor. It is way, way outside my comfort zone. And thank you for this message. It has encouraged me to look at things from a more eternal point of view rather than my own narrow focus.

  6. Dawn, thank you for sharing this sweet testimony! You are raising your son well, and it’s a blessing to hear how such a huge impact can be made with one “simple” word! Thank you for the reminder that our words truly do hold power…life or death…and allowing God to use my tongue needs to be my daily prayer. <3

  7. This is such a wonderful post, dear Dawn, and so true. And often, when we shift our perspective, we see things through another person’s experience, walk around in his shoes. It has helped me to be far more compassionate, for one. This happened when I welcomed our daughter’s Muslim friend into our home and got to know him personally. I shifted my fearful perspective from all the news I’d heard on Christian radio, particularly, and got to know him as a person–and trusted my daughter’s judgment. He is a loving, kind boy and members of his family in the Middle East live in fear of their lives. Talk about a perspective shift. I had actually feared him–a “him” I’d not even known. My fears weren’t based on reality. His for his family were. He’s back home now, but stays in touch with us and remains a good friend. He brought my daughter such comfort recently at the death of her cousin. I’m so glad God lifted the blinders from my eyes, opening them to the perspective of loving my neighbor, whoever he happened to be.
    Love
    Lynn

  8. Dawn,

    You are so so on point! I think this is why so many of Jesus’ miracles involved vision because He wants us to have “eyes to see” the way He sees. Oh that we would have eternal perspective. Oh that we would have heavenly perspective. Thank you for these grace words today.

  9. Thanks, exactly what I needed today…. how you look at things certainly change the way you respond to them.

  10. What a fantastic read! It is such a small world! I actually know the family you were talking about with the toddler. I just recently met her through another good friend. And then after talking with my parents, I realized that some of their newly met and quickly named very good friends are the parents/in-laws of that family as well. We are all so connected in this world and we don’t even realize it. I find comfort in that for some reason and it is so true about perspective and changing someone’s life; as you never know you might just change someone’s life through someone else. I’m always amazed at how “small” our world is yet so vast and big at the same time. God certainly is quite amazing!

  11. Enjoyed your post. Sometimes we try to hard to say the “right” thing, to force a perspective shift in another. I love how your son spoke out of who he is and from that place he was heard by your friend.