Friday, May 21, 2010
attitude adjustment.
So I was walking out the door this morning to take Ian to school and a thought occurred to me. (I know, I know...scary, isn't it?!) This thought hit me like a bolt of lightning. It was like that proverbial light bulb went on over my crazy, mixed up head and I instantly had clarity instead of confusion. And the thought was this, "I am one blessed woman." Honestly. I am so blessed...beyond belief...beyond what I deserve...beyond what I ever expected. In all honesty, at around the age of 25 or so I just figured I'd be the crazy drunk lady living in the little bungalow on the corner with 14 cats. I don't know why, really. Maybe past hurts just finally put that brick wall up so high that I figured my heart was permanently barricaded? And I thought I was OK with that? I mean, a protected heart is better than a broken one, right? It was safer that way. At least that's what I thought. God had a different plan for me. This brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Knowing that he plucked me right up out of that pit I was sinking into and saved me blows me away. Why me? Who am I? I'm a breath of air..a flash in the pan...temporary...made from dust. But not to Him. To Him I am valuable. And He saw differently for my life. My gratitude is unexplainable...it's something I can only express to Him through prayer...and thoughts...and tears. It's a heart-cry...from me to Him. A quiet and humble whisper, "thank you". I am blessed. God blessed me with a loving, thoughtful, funny, handsome, talented, hard-working husband. He blessed me with two amazing boys to raise and care for...and they bring a smile to my face daily. Yes, sneers, too...life is life, after all. But more smiles. Hands-down. What really smacked me upside my head was the fact that I have been so whiny lately. SO whiny... Poor me, my computer broke and now I can't blog...or do homework...or play Word Twist on Facebook. Poor me, I am so busy with work and school and kids and business and sports and life. Poor me, my house is a mess and there's laundry on the bathroom floor and a carpet to vacuum and crisper bins to clean out. Really? Really, Michelle? You are complaining about all of this? Seriously? You need to be thanking God every minute of every day that you even have these things to complain about! You need to be grateful that you even have a man, or kids. You need to be grateful that you live in a country where all of these opportunities are handed to you. You want to complain about having to pay for a doctor's appointment for your son? Really? How about being grateful that you have a son. And that you live in a country where medical care is even available. Really, Michelle? You need to be thankful that there's food in your fridge to be cleaned out! That means you have an abundance. You have enough. More than enough. You need to be grateful that you have a home to care for. You have a roof over your head. Your house is standing. You need to be grateful you have a bathroom and not just a hole in the floor. And no computer? Oh....you poor baby. Wow...I'm ashamed. Get a grip, girl. Snap out of it. Wake up! Life is good. Life is wonderful. Life is a gift. And a blessing. Be grateful for it... Now...go. Go about your day. Smile at someone. Do something nice for someone. Be Jesus with skin on. Change your attitude...because your glass is definitely half full.
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10 comments:
God must be sending messages to us this week! Yesterday I read Numbers 11 and stopped right in my tracks. Wow! God had some strong thoughts on complaining (which is whining, right?). My girls and I re-read it in the car as we traveled to the big city. Man did it speak volumes to my heart. I know I must have read it before, but the impact of it really hit me yesterday. You are so right... we have SO MUCH to be thankful for; how can we complain?
hi michelle,
thank you for an incredible post. i really needed that today. i know how abundantly blessed i am and yet i have the audacity to whine and complain about being too busy, etc. thank you sooo much. i love your blog and look forward to reading it!
peggy
It seems I need one of those too (an attitude adjustment). I love your perspective. Years ago at church in our women's group each of us got a coffee mug with hearts all over it and a message inside, a reminder to "have a grateful heart." Each time I drink from that mug, it reminds me of it's message.
Even in times of trial, I remember that God has me right where I'm supposed to be. That's a hard concept for some of my friends to understand, but I'll still keep repeating it.
Have a wonderful weekend. Signing off with gratitude for your post today, Conny.
I hear ya! I'm complaining...not about the same issues...but still grumbling. sigh. Thanks for the encouragement to look deeper at what God is doing in my life.
xoxo
ok, that was some pep talk. I remember one I had one with myself a few weeks ago on my blog! blogging is therapy I tell you!
Michelle, you are awesome! Thanks for the kick in the pants! I reckon I needed it :) Have a wonderful weekend with your boys. Love Anita. xx
Had an aha God filled moment this morning sitting in my classroom. So similar to yours, with a urgency to humble myself in the awe of my blessings. I agree about the fullness of our glasses, but I'll take you one further. My cup isn't half full; it runneth over.
Love to you and your family.
By the way: I'm putting "Be the Jesus with Skin on" on my vision board.
dFrom Linda:
Gratitude as a way of life has been a topic for Dave and I for a while now. Precisely BECAUSE it is (I'm sad to say) not natural for us. And because we lead in the area of worship and worship and gratitude are forever entwined, we KNOW we need to grow in this area big time. There is so much to whine about, real, imagined or exaggerated... but so much none-the-less for us. So we are out to fix our eyes and hearts on being, on living grateful. I have focused on the scriptures that talk about being thankful. Amazing really, how MANY passages there are on the subject, it is a definite theme scripturally... and they often have some element of 'in all situations' or 'in all ways' or 'at all times' included in them. If gratitude doesn't come naturally, being grateful at all times and in all situations definitely doesn't! So it is a spiritual discipline I am really, purposefully, determinedly practicing. In addition to the many scriptures on the subject I've found some great quotes that I am starting to collect on gratitude and thanksgiving. But this one, by Martha Washington is one of my favorites, "I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater the part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition." I am determined to be grateful and thankful (which to me would manifest as a peaceful cheerfulness, as Martha labels it, to those outside of myself) and not add to the greater misery in my own self or others by grumbling and complaining woe is me. But since the latter is natural and the former SO not, I practice, practice, practice. ALL this to say, AMEN, Sister! I hear you. Linda
Thanks..
I needed that.
One for medicine cabinet for sure.. I am in need of an attitude adjustment.
..sigh..
You always hit the nail on the head.
xo
well this was my pep talk for the day. thank you! i am such a spoiled baby, i get up and moan for the same reasons you describe, i don't want to go to work, i want to stay home and play, my house is dirty, i have to go buy more food, whine whine. its monday and i'm going to go pray for a better attitude.
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