Counting Blessings #226 -

The house is quiet. Everyone's getting a slow start this morning. I'm enjoying a few minutes to try to find words for what I feel when I think about the many ways I'm blessed in this life. I'm praying to be able to hold on to this peace and joy during the week, when things occur that aren't so joyful. While scrubbing the toilet, cleaning up spills, shoveling manure, lugging watter, washing the same dish for the umpteen millionth time (WITH good smelling detergent). I want to be able to smile, and lend peace to every situation, making difficult moments a little better for those I share them with. I want to be a blessing.
The truth is, I'm not always a blessing. I'm sometimes the first to get angry, the first to complain, or the look on my face shows my sour thoughts without a word. I wouldn't want to be around me sometimes. In fact, I've often wished I could walk away from myself, get a break from me.

So,

226) All the family and friends who put up with me while I'm learning to let thankfulness soak in and become a part of the fabric of me, and each time I'm successful at letting it speak louder than my circumstances. God's been working on this are of my life for a long time. I glad, and I hope He's getting closer to completion.

I had a whole list of bessings written, but it was getting long and I decided I wanted to share something significant that happened to me when my children were all quite young and life was hectic, and I WASN'T USUALLY THE LEAST BIT THANKFUL.

I often sit in bed in the morning praying for the strength to get up and do what needs doing all day long without wounding anyone with the negative words that come all too easy.

One morning, I was sitting and just sort of listening, waiting for something amazing. And, low and behold, it happened. This voice in my mind said, "I'll be with you when the milk spills." Well, my response was, "Will there be spilled milk today?" To which the voice said, "Yes." Well, I was sort of thinking that this wasn't too helpful. I got up and dressed, and about 10 minutes later I was getting breakfast for the children, aged newborn, two, five and seven.

I'd forgotten all about the voice of God as he'd spoken to my heart about a very real need in my life. The most basic of needs. Strenght to deal with the thousands of endless wrinkles in the day that we all encounter.

Little Two suddenly slammed her tiny hand down on the table, catching the edge of her bowl and unbelievably sending it into the air to come down on her head. Milk and cereal dripping, running onto the chair and the floor.

I was about to react in my usual resentful, sour, begrudging way, when suddenly I remembered...

"I'll be with you when the milk spills." And you know what? That changes everything. It changes EVERYTHING that God, who has so many more important problems to deal with, chose to tell me that he cares about spilled milk.

I LOVE Him, and apparently, He loves me. He loves me enough to understand that spilled milk can be a very big deal to me. He loves me enough to tell me that He cares about that. Not, "Have a better attitude about silly things like spilled milk," but, "I will be there with you." It's been making a difference in my life for the 7 years following, and slowly I'm learning to trust Him and be thankful. God is good.

Have a blessed Sunday!