Green is my favorite color. I love green in any shade it comes in: teal, lime, chartreuse, fern, sage, emerald—there are too many shades to include here. My favorite shade, though, is tanzy green, a paint color put out by Sherwin Williams. It makes me feel restful, joyful, and fresh.

Jade is another shade of green. It is also a type of gem stone. But this blog is not about the color green nor a gem stone. I simply brought up the subject because of a word association.

Though both the color and the stone are beautiful, when the word jade is used in the context of perspective, it means something completely different. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, one context of the word jade means "to wear out by overwork or abuse; to tire or dull through repetition or excess; to become weary or dulled." To be jaded is not beautiful at all.

Excessive exposure to negativity can cause jadedness. We are surrounded by an overabundance of negativity. It seems impossible to avoid, and it is difficult to remain positive in the midst of it.

But, I wonder what would happen if we refused to become worn out, dulled, and abused—jaded—by all of the negativity our world is offering. What if we chose to keep a fresh, restful, and joyful pespective in the midst of chaos. What if we all became agents for positive change.

Naive? Not at all! The reality is we have a choice. We can either become jaded or offer hope. We can either be influenced or become influencers.

Jesus was an influencer, and He created positive change in the midst of opposition, disease, sickness, sin, hurt, and hate. He wasn't worn out or dulled by any of it. Rather, He was full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (See Galatians 5:22-23, ESV.)

Jesus offered hope and healing to others. He is calling us to do the same today. The best way to be like Jesus is to have His perspective—to be full of the Spirit. We are to have the mind of Christ. We are to think like Jesus. Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," (NKJV).

Paul advised in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things," (ESV).

We have to choose a better perspective on purpose. When we do, intentional love for Him and others becomes the outflow. I think it's time to choose Jesus' perspective. I think it's time to think like Him.

#bitterness #kindness #fruitofthespirit #Galatians5 #Philippians4