A Dose of Perspective
Yesterday started out less than smoothly... Colson screamed throughout the entirety of my very fast shower, the older kids were ornery and taking their time getting ready for school, Colson ended up needing two outfit changes and two baths prior to walking out the door and at one point peed on himself, me, the wall and the floor. (My children - they're talented). To top things off, as we were all piling in the van I realized I had forgotten to pack Reagan's lunch. Ugh.
Today, Colson has apparently decided that sleeping for more than 10 minutes at a time is soooo for 5-week olds and clearly at 6 weeks he is much too old for such behavior. Awesome.
As I was sitting and rocking him to sleep yet again, I found myself fuming at the chaos of the last few days... not much had seemed to be going the way I had hoped... the laundry was piling up, the dishes were still needing to be finished. It's mid-afternoon and I just realized I didn't yet get meat out of the freezer for dinner. (Frantic mind search for Plan B Dinner)
But then I remembered...
I remembered the 6 week old baby boy who was brutally murdered.
I remembered the young mother of three who unexpectedly died in her sleep.
I remembered the friend who is trying for a baby without success.
And my silent complaining suddenly shifted to heartfelt cries of praise.
And I wondered... how often do we end up complaining about the things we once fervently prayed for? The husband we were desperate to marry doesn't meet all of our expectations...The job we waited for and worked towards isn't good enough anymore...The house we saved and sacrificed for on no longer measures up. So many blessings we take for granted.
I am thankful for this life - rocking my fussy, non-sleeping baby is suddenly a privilege. The chaos and dishes and laundry are evidences of the blessings God has given me. I am realizing that cultivating a heart of gratitude changes everything. Don't get me wrong, the frustrations don't leave. Kids are still ornery. Babies are still exhausting...and leaky. Jobs still have their frustrations. Marriage still takes work. But gratitude shifts our perspective from one of selfishness to one of selflessness.
And it's only when we're living for something other than ourselves that we find peace.
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." - Cicero
Today, Colson has apparently decided that sleeping for more than 10 minutes at a time is soooo for 5-week olds and clearly at 6 weeks he is much too old for such behavior. Awesome.
As I was sitting and rocking him to sleep yet again, I found myself fuming at the chaos of the last few days... not much had seemed to be going the way I had hoped... the laundry was piling up, the dishes were still needing to be finished. It's mid-afternoon and I just realized I didn't yet get meat out of the freezer for dinner. (Frantic mind search for Plan B Dinner)
But then I remembered...
I remembered the 6 week old baby boy who was brutally murdered.
I remembered the young mother of three who unexpectedly died in her sleep.
I remembered the friend who is trying for a baby without success.
And my silent complaining suddenly shifted to heartfelt cries of praise.
And I wondered... how often do we end up complaining about the things we once fervently prayed for? The husband we were desperate to marry doesn't meet all of our expectations...The job we waited for and worked towards isn't good enough anymore...The house we saved and sacrificed for on no longer measures up. So many blessings we take for granted.
I am thankful for this life - rocking my fussy, non-sleeping baby is suddenly a privilege. The chaos and dishes and laundry are evidences of the blessings God has given me. I am realizing that cultivating a heart of gratitude changes everything. Don't get me wrong, the frustrations don't leave. Kids are still ornery. Babies are still exhausting...and leaky. Jobs still have their frustrations. Marriage still takes work. But gratitude shifts our perspective from one of selfishness to one of selflessness.
And it's only when we're living for something other than ourselves that we find peace.
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." - Cicero
friend. this is GOOD STUFF! And leaky Colson - that made me laugh. :) Love you!
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