I’ve been on a journey lately and it’s got me thinking, is life a series of inconveniences or blessings in disguise?
I sit outside in the cold and ponder my big dilemma. Although our dog is 8 years old he can at times still be like a puppy. Right now he is having one of those moments, he NEEDS me to sit with him while he eats. It’s kinda cute but it’s also a bit of a pain. Is it an inconvenience to sit in the rain and the cold? Of course, but is it worth it? Yes. Are there other things I’d like to be doing? Of course. I was snuggled under a warm blanket reading so I’d love to go back to doing that. But this is where I’m needed so it’s got to be a blessing in disguise. I sense it is another lesson in gratitude that the Lord is trying to teach. Another moment where He wants my attention. As I sit and ponder I think about how much a blessing our dog is to us, think of all the joy he has bought to our lives. When we went to the shelter to pick out a dog, we went there with another in mind but it was our daughter that picked this one – our Jimmy. I take a moment to thank God for being with us through the tough journey of losing a dog. I thank God that we have a new fur baby. I laugh as I watch him prance around the yard, yes he does do a funny prance thing at times. He trots like a horse doing dressage. I smile and the cold doesn’t seem to bite so deep. I know the gratitude lessons are taking me on a journey. I know that there’s many more ups and downs to come, so many more lefts and rights that might take me off THE path, BUT I hope and pray that the lessons I’ve learned will stay with me for life. I hope that I’ll pause to see that each inconvenience is a blessing in disguise.
Tested
Don’t ya just love it when your resolve is tested?!!!!! A few days later I’m trying desperately to apply the gratitude lesson. The challenge is to see how a cat pee swamp on the concrete in the garage, with cat poop right alongside it, can be overcome with gratitude! When I first write this I’m too annoyed to see past the HUGE inconvenience it is. Cleaning the cat litter was on my list to do but not having to scrub the concrete. I’m exhausted and cross as I pause to ponder and to try and calm down…… Whilst I lie down to rest I’m visited by my son and Jimmy, I am cheered up by their company. When my son leaves I turn to today’s Bible verse and I’m not sure if I should chuckle or cry? The verse of the DAY is a reminder to devote myself to prayer, I’m urged to be persistent and focused with my prayers. I’m prompted to give thanks to God WITH a thankful heart and an attitude of thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2 )
Ok, the scowl has gone, I’m actually smiling now. The Amplified version also states that we are to be alert. I know that it is so easy for me to focus on the negative and so easy for resentment, frustration, anger (and a whole range of other emotions) to easily fester and become like a swamp in my heart. But just like I scrubbed and hosed and scrubbed and hosed, and disinfected and scrubbed and hosed that concrete. God wants to flush those negative emotions out of my heart so it can be FULL of gratitude and thanksgiving. I know that it’s ok to have these moments of resentment, frustration, anger (and what ever other emotions arise) but I also know I can’t dwell in that place, I can’t allow those emotions to fester and poison me.
Prayer:
So my prayer today is this: Holy Spirit, as my great Helper and Comforter, I invite You to come and help me to process the emotions raging through me right now. As my wise Teacher, I ask You to show me ways that I can regularly devote my life to prayer. As my mighty Intercessor, I ask You to assist me to be alert, focused and persistent in my prayer life. As my faithful Strengthener, I ask You to deepen and strengthen my prayer life. Holy Spirit remind me again about Jesus, how wonderful He is. And shift my focus to Him which will turn my attitude into that of thanksgiving; transform my heart so that it is FILLED with gratitude; and move my spirit to praise and worship. Help me right now to deeply give thanks to God. (inspired by John 14:26)
How about you? What challenges have you faced that have left you struggling to be grateful?
I’d love to hear from you.
Many blessings,
Keona
