Thursday, January 29, 2009

One of Only a Very Few Deep Thoughts I Will Have This Year

**Okay, I am giving up on putting in the Company Girls Coffee thingy...I can't figure it out, I really need an inhouse techy**

Anyway...that night as I got ready for bed and was going over the events of the day, I thought about that discussion. Isn't that how we so often are in our spiritual walk. God gives us a blessing and we just want more. Thank you for my house...but I really wish it was bigger or nicer or in a better location. My church is great...but the music could be better or the S.S. more fun. I love my husband...but I wish he would listen more, help more, be home more. You get the picture. I never seem to be happy, I always expect just a little more. I twist around His promises and then get put out that He isn't following through. I forget that it isn't all about me.

I often pray very specifically thinking only how something will impact me and feel let down, forgotten, disappointed when my "shopping list" is denied. So, I have really tried to watch my attitude since then, tried to think about the consequences...and it is interesting. This week, we have been under winter weather advisories. Monday evening, the speculation about whether or not school would be cancelled began. I must admit...I wanted school to be cancelled. I wanted to stay home, to sleep late, to take it easy. I so wanted to pray, to actually pray, for a snow day. And then I got on Facebook. I read several entries about how badly people needed to work, needed their kids to go to school, etc. All of a sudden, it wasn't about me. For the first time, in a very long time, I could see the big picture and stop focusing on my little world. Sometimes God says no to me because He is saying yes to someone else. It isn't because I am not important, it isn't because He doesn't care. He does care. He cares enough to tell me no. He sees so far beyond my understanding...and I am so glad. Parenting my four is hard enough...imagine parenting 6 billion or so!

And so, I am sharing with you...because I think sometimes we all feel let down. Sometimes we all wonder if He is really listening or if He really cares. Sometimes we all mix up our expectations with His promises and end up feeling denied, ignored or forgotten. And somehow, it brings me such peace to know that maybe my blessing comes in giving up a blessing for someone else.

By the way, we ended up with not one, but two snow days. Yee-haw!

13 comments:

CJ, The Purple Diva said...

Boy this being a parent thing is sure had, isn't it? If only there were manuals.
Its hard to learn to think of others; but we are all human and try each day to be the best we can be. Some days are better than others and some days we aren't so great. Our Heavenly Father does know what's best for us and answers our prayers according to what we need at that time. I'm so thankful He knows what's best for us! Aren't you?
I hope things work out with FB and the sleeping schedule! Hang tough mom! ♥

Aimee said...

Great post -- lots of good food for thought! :)

I have a tendency to slip into the same kind of "shopping list" prayer that you mentioned. Then I think of something I learned about how to pray, and my perspective comes back.

When praying, I just try to follows the acronym ACTS.
A = adoration of God
C = contrition for my sins
T = thanksgiving for all I have been given
S = supplication for any special intentions

The best thing about this little method is that by the time I am done praising God and thanking Him for my blessings, I find that I am not asking Him for nearly as much "stuff" for myself.

Tons of people probably already know this tip, but it helps me so much :)

Dani said...

Thank you for your blog. I needed to hear that today!

Camille said...

Thank you for your post. This was a great reminder of how I often feel and how I get wrapped up in my problems, desires that I fail to see the big picture or remember that God knows best.

Rachel said...

Yep, it's all too easy to slip into that way of thinking. Thanks for the post.

Les & Sweetie Berry said...

I can so relate....and as I have reached this 44th year I am so learning by the 2 x 4 method that its okay when God says no or nothing...He has the plan and its going to be just the right one for me!
hugs hugs hugs!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post! A simple, yet very important, reminder!!! If God said 'yes' to everything...boy, where would we be then? I'd probably be married to my crummy high school boyfriend and not sitting here typing you a comment!!! Now, that is no fun!!!

Four Little Penguins said...

That's what I've been trying to grasp lately, too.
It's NOT ABOUT ME!
sigh.
Thanks for sharing and giving me another nudge in the right direction. :)

secondofwett said...

I've been parenting for over 34 years and in some ways it's easier but in many ways I'm still learning...God is still teaching me , day by day.

mholgate said...

I really enjoyed reading your post this morning. Every day we have to remember to be thankful for what we have. I was reminded of that last week when my Pastor spoke on church family. Also this week I heard a verse in the NT where Jesus said that if we can fill the need of our neighbor but send them away, we have not love. Now I am determined to watch for opportunities to bless others.

Nice getting to know you a bit! BTW, we had 5 snow days, and it would have been more had it not been Christmas break! It was crazy!

Blessings!
Melissa

Growin' With It said...

"He is saying yes to someone else"
ouch...where's the bandaids?

seriously this is one of those posts that touch my heart so powerfully that i cannot NOT change my perspective.

and that my dear is the markings of a true bloggy friend. one who says it like it is and you can grow from it! thank you!

Carol said...

Thank you for this post. I am trying very hard to maintain that perspective in my home as well. It is hard with the separation, looking for a full time job and everything else. Aimee, I loved the ACTS method. I haven't heard of it, so thanks! God bless y'all.

Growin' With It said...

tomorrow will be a week. not that i'm noticing or anything. boy do i sound "stalky"...i know you have things to blog about! you've gotta!