Welcome to the Proverbs 31 "Encouragement for Today Readers." I am glad you are here visiting. Today, you'll find nothing but honesty... because I think that's what we women need more of sometimes.
I don't know what came over me, but yesterday I acted ugly y'all. Impatient. Rushed. And pushed to my limits.
My daughter needed new athletic shoes so off we trotted to our local shoe store. It should have been a wonderful bonding time but instead I quickly found myself being snappy. The first thing that caught me off guard was the high price tag of the shoes. Don't these athletic companies know we are in a recession?
The second thing that sent my attitude teetering on the edge, was the fact that she can't use these shoes for anything but this one sport... and they can't be worn outside... and she'll need another pair for gym class. Hello mac and cheese for dinner every night this week so my daughter's feet can be all that for middle school sports.
Then my daughter tells me she must try the shoes on with socks. We didn't have socks. The store didn't have any to loan us. Now we had to buy socks which would add $8 more dollars to our already high tab.
Urggghhhh.
Once we got the socks and got the shoes on her feet, she was frustrated with how they fit. So, she tried another pair. And another. And another. And--- oh for crying out loud just pick something would you!
I can't explain why I suddenly felt very frayed and on edge. It was as if every nerve in my body suddenly climbed to the surface of my skin and started demanding we go home right this instant or my head might explode into a thousand particles of pixy dust.
At that point I think my daughter would have liked to see that happen to be honest with you. She was frustrated with my lack of enthusiasm over the 14 pairs of athletic shoes sprawled out before us.
Seeing this situation as a gift for which to be thankful never entered my mind.
Seeing my daughter as a gift for which to be thankful never entered my mind.
Seeing the fact that she is healthy and able to do athletic activities never entered my mind.
I just felt bothered and frustrated and anything but thankful.
That is until we got home and I got an e-mail from my church reminding me the notes for the message I'll be giving soon were due by Friday. And my message? "The Most Powerful Two Word Prayer.... Thank God."
To say I was humbled is quite the understatement.
Now, I'm not saying I think it was wrong for me to feel frustrated. But what I am saying is my response to that frustration could have been different...should have been different. I didn't have to act ugly and become a slave to my circumstances.
Like I said in my P31 devo, I could have replaced the grumbling script playing in my head with this, "If this is the worst thing that happens to me today, it's still a pretty good day."
How many times do I need to learn this lesson?
And how many times will I be humbled and put back in place with my own writings?
This is the day the Lord has made. He spent time crafting this day- making this day- arranging this day- and now He's presented it as a gift to me. Will I rejoice and be glad in it? Will I see it as a gift? Will I keep my attitude in check? Will I ponder how very fortunate I am?
Will I give myself grace for yesterday and approach today as fresh and new and one more chance to live out loud the thankfulness I feel?
Post a comment about how you will choose to see the good rather than focus on the bad in your day today. Each time something aggravates you, make the choice to say, “If this is the worst thing that happens to me today, it’s still a pretty good day.”
I don't know what came over me, but yesterday I acted ugly y'all. Impatient. Rushed. And pushed to my limits.
My daughter needed new athletic shoes so off we trotted to our local shoe store. It should have been a wonderful bonding time but instead I quickly found myself being snappy. The first thing that caught me off guard was the high price tag of the shoes. Don't these athletic companies know we are in a recession?
The second thing that sent my attitude teetering on the edge, was the fact that she can't use these shoes for anything but this one sport... and they can't be worn outside... and she'll need another pair for gym class. Hello mac and cheese for dinner every night this week so my daughter's feet can be all that for middle school sports.
Then my daughter tells me she must try the shoes on with socks. We didn't have socks. The store didn't have any to loan us. Now we had to buy socks which would add $8 more dollars to our already high tab.
Urggghhhh.
Once we got the socks and got the shoes on her feet, she was frustrated with how they fit. So, she tried another pair. And another. And another. And--- oh for crying out loud just pick something would you!
I can't explain why I suddenly felt very frayed and on edge. It was as if every nerve in my body suddenly climbed to the surface of my skin and started demanding we go home right this instant or my head might explode into a thousand particles of pixy dust.
At that point I think my daughter would have liked to see that happen to be honest with you. She was frustrated with my lack of enthusiasm over the 14 pairs of athletic shoes sprawled out before us.
Seeing this situation as a gift for which to be thankful never entered my mind.
Seeing my daughter as a gift for which to be thankful never entered my mind.
Seeing the fact that she is healthy and able to do athletic activities never entered my mind.
I just felt bothered and frustrated and anything but thankful.
That is until we got home and I got an e-mail from my church reminding me the notes for the message I'll be giving soon were due by Friday. And my message? "The Most Powerful Two Word Prayer.... Thank God."
To say I was humbled is quite the understatement.
Now, I'm not saying I think it was wrong for me to feel frustrated. But what I am saying is my response to that frustration could have been different...should have been different. I didn't have to act ugly and become a slave to my circumstances.
Like I said in my P31 devo, I could have replaced the grumbling script playing in my head with this, "If this is the worst thing that happens to me today, it's still a pretty good day."
How many times do I need to learn this lesson?
And how many times will I be humbled and put back in place with my own writings?
This is the day the Lord has made. He spent time crafting this day- making this day- arranging this day- and now He's presented it as a gift to me. Will I rejoice and be glad in it? Will I see it as a gift? Will I keep my attitude in check? Will I ponder how very fortunate I am?
Will I give myself grace for yesterday and approach today as fresh and new and one more chance to live out loud the thankfulness I feel?
Post a comment about how you will choose to see the good rather than focus on the bad in your day today. Each time something aggravates you, make the choice to say, “If this is the worst thing that happens to me today, it’s still a pretty good day.”
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