Training Myself

(no, that is not me)

Someone has aptly said, and I can't quote it exactly, The key to child training is parent training.  Heavy sigh.  I need so much training, I am still not ready to have children, and here I am with one or two ready to move out in just a few years.

I feel a grumbly funk today.  Whether it's hormonal (meaning I have something to blame) or not  really doesn't matter, because if we don't control the behavior that our feelings cause, we are just enslaved by our emotions.  And what a pathetic life that one is.  In this world I am surrounded by people whose lives are completely run by how they feel.  I don't want to be one of them. So today, in a self-training exercise, I am going to list all some of the things I am grateful for.  Maybe the funk will go away.  Oh, but I hate self-training.  It's so much easier to grumble.  I can think of a zillion things to grumble about, but some days, like today,  it very shamefully takes work to think of more than five things to be grateful for.   But I am going to do it anyway. (Hear those two arguing in my ear?)

Today, whether I feel grateful or not, I am grateful  for:

• God's wonderful salvation, so rich and so free  -- without that I'd have no hope at all


• God's words that I can read each day and know that they are right from his mouth


• God's promises of forgiveness, provision, comfort, help, blessing, heaven, guidance, correction, and strength


• that God KEEPS his promises


• that Jesus Christ gave my life a purpose


• for the wonderful husband that he gave me


• my daughter, Alison, who is so helpful and is growing into a beautiful adult woman


• my daughter, Amy, whose energy and creativity are a blessing to this family


• my sensitive and soft-spoken daughter, Elisabeth, whose spirit is an exploration place for me


• my daughter, Emily, who loves to please others and who will still be with me in ten years


• for the family that God put me in


• God gave my husband a ministry


• God enables my husband to do something he loves to do


• a scriptural church


• we have what we need


• the privilege to stay home with my family


• uplifting, God-glorifying music


• my Sunday School kids


• for gospel-preaching families who go to dirty, dangerous, or inconvenient places for Jesus' sake


• liberty to worship, to own a Bible, to come and go


• for a home that meets our needs and then some


• homeschooling


• the school year is done


• air conditioning!!!!!!!


• it's not 120º yet (but it's getting closer)


• chocolate (okay, this is losing its spiritual tone and quickly going for the carnal, but I'm serious)


• faithful friends


• being able to see, hear, feel, think, walk, feed and bathe myself, read, write, and many other things


• for good health in spite of being diabetic for decades


• a van that runs faithfully and has good AC


• cold water/running water/hot water


• washer and dryer


• soap, shampoo, and conditioner


• people who love me when I feel this way


• and lots of other things.  I should be able to come up with 1000 more things right now, right off the top of my head.

There are some more things that I am thankful for but realize they are mixed blessings:

• a computer or three


• three closets full of clothes and shoes


• more closets full of STUFF


• books, books, and more books


• a full kitchen → full bellies → full hips (they make a good lap?)

Okay.  Now I am going to paste a genuine smile on my face, sing a song of praise to God, and go brush my teeth. :D

♫  ♪  ♫    I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.    ♫ ♪ ♫
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:1-3