Focus on the but?

Read carefully: Focus on the but (yes, only one "t"). As a woman, I need no help on focusing on the other spelling!

I have been thinking on this for awhile and at the time I didn't have a good example of my thought. I do now thanks to the Miss USA pageant (scholarship opportunity....sorry, a little sarcasm). I didn't watch it....totally forgot about it truthfully. I did hear/see Miss Michigan won! Followed up by and shown numerous times, she tripped. She's beautiful, she won, but the media seem to focus on the stumble!

Oh, we can be so critical....especially if it helps keep the attention off of us. BUT can be so negative. "You did good, BUT you could have done better" "I like this about myself, BUT I could/should still ___________ fill in the blank.

Many times it seems we put the positive 1st and then follow it with how it could be better. Sometimes maybe we need to stop ourselves before we get to BUT. "You did good." "I like this about myself" I've heard that for every negative, it can take up to 5 positives to counteract.

I'm going to start paying more attention to where I'm putting my attention when I think about others....and try to take it easier on myself as well. People really don't need our assistance in finding faults. It seems everybody has something about themselves they would change if they could.

I tried looking up "but" in the Bible...numerous versions even at www.biblegateway.com. I didn't find any. There were quite a few for "however".

Interesting that this is under the heading: Unity in the Body
Ephesians 4:2-7
² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all. ⁷ However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

Look for the gift in each person......Even if you have to get past a lot of buts.