Focus

 For many years, February has been one of my least favorite months. It has a kind of sad, somber tone to it. I have always been glad to get through it. The strangest part is that for a long time I was not really sure why. It wasn’t until I broke it down into good/bad lists that I understood my feelings.

For me, it contains some of the worst days of the year. It’s traditionally the coldest month of winter.  It’s the month I usually sit down and figure out how much taxes are gonna cost me this time. It’s the shortest month. And it’s the month in which my father passed away.
Oddly enough, it also contains some of the best days of the year. There are two, four day weeks, a special treat for school teachers. Valentine’s Day is the anniversary of our first date.
Two of my precious grandchildren and my youngest son were born in February. The days are starting to get longer, and I’m starting to plant indoors in anticipation of spring. In Arizona, spring training is in full swing. All in all, February is a decent month. So what gives? Why do I sometimes feel it’s a bummer?

I think the key is focus. When we are using microscopes in my Biology class, we often like to use “deep well” slides. They are slides with a slight dished-out area in it. They allow you to see things that are a bit bigger without squishing them flat. The problem is, because of the depth of field it gives, you have to know where to focus. You can focus on the top of things, on the bottom, or somewhere in-between. One part will look perfectly clear. The other parts will be blurry or even nonexistent.

 Focus in life, is all about what I spend my time thinking about. If I continually dwell on the negative, it will drag me down. If I focus on the cold, loss, and taxes, I will trudge through the month head-down, hoping for it to end. But if I look to all the great things I’ve been given in February, I can gratefully smile my way into spring. Now that I think about it, February is not all that bad. No butterflies yet, but they will be here soon. Yes, I choose to focus on the best of February. Time to put on some warm socks and go to some birthday parties!

“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.” Philippians 4:8 NIV