Lickley's Corners Baptist Church

I wearily sat down on the edge of my bed. Every muscle in my back, legs and feet were protesting. I grumpily thought of all the laundry that still needed to done. I sighed heavily as I pondered on how the house had mysteriously gotten so cluttered when we had hardly spent any time at home over the weekend. I struck up a running commentary in my head on the injustices of doing my household duties while everyone else lounged in front of the television.

Then my eyes drifted over to my nightstand and caught these words printed on a card.

Oops! I had been doing everything but that for the last hour. I had let my tiredness and selfishness take control. Instead of complaining, I should have been praising. Praising God for my happy, healthy children. Praising Him for my loving husband (even though he had parked his caboose in front of the T.V.!). Praising the Lord for my home, for the food he provides to fill our tummies, and for the clothes we have to wear. Praising Him for our freedom to worship in this country. Praising the Lord that my husband still has a job. Praising Him for his love. Praising, praising, praising.

Let me tell you those two verses struck my heart. I realized I have prided my self in being a positive person, looking for the good in every situation. Last night I realized my positive attitude does a disappearing act when I am in the comfort of my own home. All of a sudden, I start to gripe. I get frustrated with all that needs to be done and all that isn't getting done. My outlook takes on a more pessimistic tone. Instead of setting my heart to praising I find my self grumbling. This is the exact opposite of what I want to teach my children.

I tend to feel the grumpiness coming on when I am tired, the children have been a handful, or when there is much to do and little time to accomplish it. However, I am coming to see that these are the times I need to pour on the praise, look for the positives and fill my heart with thankfulness. When the pressure is on my children are watching to see how I will respond. Am I going to crumble or am I going to stand firm and fill our home with praise. I want my children seeing and hearing me praising the Lord through the good and the bad. So that when they face difficulties they will know exactly how to deal with them.

Head on, with a heart and voice full of praise!