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Finding perspective in the world ...
>> Thursday, April 7, 2011
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I think finding perspective, and being thankful are two of the biggest struggles we face...I know at least for me, I have a tendency to complain when things aren't going my way, but not nearly as often do I stop and thank God for all of the blessings he has bestowed me. Today was a perfect example. My day started with the kids calling me out of my bed...in the scope of our first waking hour, Bubba B had come in crying twice because he said sorry to the princess for who knows what and evidently she either didn't acknowledge him at all, or not to his liking...The Princess came in crying when he stepped on something in the mess of the floor, and her foot was under it, so there was a little skinned part...I don't remember why else "MOMMY" was being screamed, but I could tell it was going to be "one of those days." On the way into the kitchen to pop their waffles into the toaster, I paused long enough to update my twitter status..."Today is already one of "those" days...praying the day gets better" About a minute after posting that, I pulled the toaster from under the cabinet and a bottle of worcestershire sauce fell from the counter onto my foot...
Here is the thing though...there was nothing really all that wrong with my day...my family is healthy, the sun is shining, it was going to get up to 80 degrees...a good day overall...the problem really was more internal...my mood, my lack of thankfulness and perspective. We all get that dose of perspective when things like the disaster in Japan happen. We start thinking about all the people effected, what we can do to help, and sometimes even try to imagine how they must be feeling...That is all fine and dandy until we step away from the tv footage, or the computer, or put down that magazine to yell at the kids for jumping on the furniture, or the dog to stop barking...Then we go about our day thinking about how rotten it started out, and wishing it would get better. I had some of that perspective slap me across the face today...I have been reading One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
, and had already planned on started Multitude Mondays this coming Monday...I am trying to be thankful, but on a morning like this morning it wasn't even crossing my mind. I had dropped my Grandmom off at her doctors appointment, and the kids and I were sitting in the parking lot when Neil called...My Dad's old neighbors had a house fire this morning...the house is actually only 2 blocks away from where I am sitting right now...sitting in the grass in my Grandmoms backyard, watching my kids run around playing Wild Krats. Two blocks away, in the early morning there was a fire and one man died, and although his wife was rescued, last I heard, she is not expected to make it. When the firefighters got there, the couples son had been trying to fight the fire with an extenguisher, and had tried to go back inside, but it was too hot...I should also mention that the family did have 2 smoke detectors, but neither were working...I can't imagine what that family is going through right now...
Why is it that we gripe and complain over the smallest thing that goes wrong in our day. If you think back to yesterday, or this morning and were to ask the bad points, or the points that didn't go as planned they may roll off your tongue, but if I ask the good things, the things you were truly thankful for in the same period of time, would you be able to answer as smoothly, or would you have to stop and think? We need to remember how blessed we are, and remember to thank God, even in the rough patches. Even when everything looks like it is going downhill, even if you feel like you have hit rock bottom, God is there with you. He has his arms around you as you as you sit crying because there is no way out, and he is there to lift you up when the time comes.
I think finding perspective, and being thankful are two of the biggest struggles we face...I know at least for me, I have a tendency to complain when things aren't going my way, but not nearly as often do I stop and thank God for all of the blessings he has bestowed me. Today was a perfect example. My day started with the kids calling me out of my bed...in the scope of our first waking hour, Bubba B had come in crying twice because he said sorry to the princess for who knows what and evidently she either didn't acknowledge him at all, or not to his liking...The Princess came in crying when he stepped on something in the mess of the floor, and her foot was under it, so there was a little skinned part...I don't remember why else "MOMMY" was being screamed, but I could tell it was going to be "one of those days." On the way into the kitchen to pop their waffles into the toaster, I paused long enough to update my twitter status..."Today is already one of "those" days...praying the day gets better" About a minute after posting that, I pulled the toaster from under the cabinet and a bottle of worcestershire sauce fell from the counter onto my foot...
Here is the thing though...there was nothing really all that wrong with my day...my family is healthy, the sun is shining, it was going to get up to 80 degrees...a good day overall...the problem really was more internal...my mood, my lack of thankfulness and perspective. We all get that dose of perspective when things like the disaster in Japan happen. We start thinking about all the people effected, what we can do to help, and sometimes even try to imagine how they must be feeling...That is all fine and dandy until we step away from the tv footage, or the computer, or put down that magazine to yell at the kids for jumping on the furniture, or the dog to stop barking...Then we go about our day thinking about how rotten it started out, and wishing it would get better. I had some of that perspective slap me across the face today...I have been reading One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
, and had already planned on started Multitude Mondays this coming Monday...I am trying to be thankful, but on a morning like this morning it wasn't even crossing my mind. I had dropped my Grandmom off at her doctors appointment, and the kids and I were sitting in the parking lot when Neil called...My Dad's old neighbors had a house fire this morning...the house is actually only 2 blocks away from where I am sitting right now...sitting in the grass in my Grandmoms backyard, watching my kids run around playing Wild Krats. Two blocks away, in the early morning there was a fire and one man died, and although his wife was rescued, last I heard, she is not expected to make it. When the firefighters got there, the couples son had been trying to fight the fire with an extenguisher, and had tried to go back inside, but it was too hot...I should also mention that the family did have 2 smoke detectors, but neither were working...I can't imagine what that family is going through right now...Why is it that we gripe and complain over the smallest thing that goes wrong in our day. If you think back to yesterday, or this morning and were to ask the bad points, or the points that didn't go as planned they may roll off your tongue, but if I ask the good things, the things you were truly thankful for in the same period of time, would you be able to answer as smoothly, or would you have to stop and think? We need to remember how blessed we are, and remember to thank God, even in the rough patches. Even when everything looks like it is going downhill, even if you feel like you have hit rock bottom, God is there with you. He has his arms around you as you as you sit crying because there is no way out, and he is there to lift you up when the time comes.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessaloninans 5:16-18 NIV
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