Tuesday, June 8, 2010

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 trainingHeavy 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

4 comments:

  1. Oh Sally, I am right there with you! I am certainly not ready to have children myself when I compare myself to God's Word. I am not qualified to breathe. BUT, by His grace we are forgiven and given tools to keep going. This afternoon, I had to will myself to keep going, clean the kitchen, start MORE laundry, blah, blah, blah. I am totally trying not to live according to my feelings, but it is a struggle. No wonder my kids are not self-motivated. :-/
    Jenn

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  2. Coming from a family with "feeling" issues (the ladies in my family have traditionally been ruled by their feelings) it has been a hard cycle to break. However, I am determined to not to trust feelings but rather the truth, and more importantly, God's Truth!

    Blessings!
    Sharity

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would say you're doing just fine, Sally. The Lord has truly blessed you and you are a blessing to many. Thanks for being here and being so transparent. Julie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh good Sally, you had me worried that you were lifting weights now.

    We all LOVE you Sally and I'm glad we met!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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