The beautiful spring day created an opportunity to spend a few hours at the park with my granddaughters. Scurrying around the playground, they asked me to take pictures of them as they climbed the tall slides and hung by their knees on the money bars. My camera screen is impossible to see in the sunlight so, as usual, I simply aimed and snapped pictures in their direction, hoping to catch some cute shots. I would edit and crop the photos once I got home.

Back at the house, I opened the gallery to view the antics of my darlings only to find frame after frame of my face! Yep, somehow in my blind operation of the camera, I had managed to reverse the picture to myself instead of what I was aiming at in front of me. What a huge disappointment. We would need to make a trip to the park another afternoon for a do-over.

Seeing my face in each picture instead of theirs caused me to reflect. How many times had I turned the focus to myself, taken an emotional bow, or allowed a compliment to dwell when the true glory belonged to God?

In our world of selfies and personal choices, it can be easy to get caught up in ourselves. Words like, “that was my idea” or “I made that” or “look at me” can spill out with pride. We can pat ourselves on the back and take credit beyond our contribution to a project or outcome. I am not suggesting it is wrong to accept a compliment or feel a sense of accomplishment for a job well done, but it’s important to keep it all in perspective, knowing, as James 1:17 reminds us: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting sands.” NIV.

In my journey to know our Father God better, I have come to realize that I am truly void without Him. He is the Maker and Creator of all things, including my talents, skills, and abilities. He is the source of any brilliant ideas and good thoughts. Taking credit would be like congratulating a book publisher when it is the author who wrote the amazing story. God is my author and as such, I would rather be a humble character in His story than the star of my own show.

My camera mishap was a great reminder to keep my focus where it belongs, on Christ. “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God.” Hebrews 12:2 MSG.

I want to finish my life’s race well. I want to have an exhilarating finish that is laser focused on eternal glory in heaven. That means staying close to Jesus, doing life as He did, and keeping my eyes on Him, for He deserves all glory and praise.