How is my attitude?

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

This verse was shared with me a few weeks ago, and it has been very convicting. Often, I have thought of my light as being my actions…the “good works” that I am doing. However, I have come to realize that my attitude is really what makes the lasting impact with my family, those around me and for the Lord.

Actions are a necessary means to service, but the light that shines through me as I work for the Lord is my attitude. Christ asked in the Sermon on the Mount: how are you to be salt in the world (bring others to taste the goodness of the Lord) if you have lost your flavor? In turn, how am I to be the light that brings others to Christ when my attitude is dark and negative?

A few years ago, I was keeping children in our home for a little extra income. One particularly challenging day, Matt called to check on me and give encouragement. I began to go down the list of kids (including my own!) and tell him about the bad day each was having. In a very humble voice, Matt so sweetly suggested that perhaps the problem was ME. (I can laugh now, but you know how that probably went over at the time.) After I prayed about it, I realized that as the person in charge of the home during the day, I was setting the tone. The only person I could change was ME. The type of day I was having was only determined by ME.

I have given myself many excuses: "I am not a pessimist…just a realist"; "I am just stating facts"; "I'm just in a difficult place right now"... I think I am beginning to own up to the fact that it really doesn’t matter, and if I need to explain myself, I am likely not shining in a way that “encourages others to love and good works”. (Hebrews 10:24) Only a change in my attitude will allow me to be the light that I have been called to be.

I recently read this quote from Charles Swindoll:

"The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church..a home. The remarkable thing is we have a CHOICE every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our ATTITUDES."

Wow, I have finally found the one thing of which I can be in charge!
AT

The Puzzle

Last week was an emotional rollercoaster. I am sure that we will have many of those on this journey, but the last 9 days have seemed especially difficult. Even now as I write I have that aching knot in my gut…you know the one that you get on the first day of school, or the one that you have before a speech, or when you are waiting on a phone call…well, I don’t know how else to describe it, but the underlying anxiety is real.

I have found myself saying, “If I just knew what God’s plan was, I would just relax.” God has been very clear about His call to missions and even His call to a specific people & country. The “tricky” part comes in getting to that place.

I woke up one morning last week to realize that I had a matted eye. After one look at my son, I realized that my issue was not just lack of sleep. We were all about to display a case of full blown pink eye. Thankfully, I had leftover drops from the last episode, so I began medicating everyone! This proved to be a good reason to have a quiet few days of reflection and prayer. I cancelled all of our plans and assigned the kids “puzzle duty”.

Each child was given a puzzle that was “age appropriate” yet challenging. I intended it to be something that would take the kids several hours and exercise their summer brains. It would also give me an opportunity to scrapbook & pray.

Everything started off as “I planned”. The kids set to task, and worked diligently the first 30 minutes. I stepped in a few times over the next 30 minutes to help each child complete their frame and give encouragement…..then it started…the whining!

“I don’t know where this piece goes. I can’t make this piece work. I can’t find the piece I need.”

Each time I heard a protest, I encouraged the child to, “not give up”, “keep working”, “find a new direction that will get you to the same place”.

WOW, did those words come back to hit me in the face! Why do I have to “know what God’s plan is” in-order to “relax”? He has been gracious to give me the picture of the “completed puzzle”. I do not know where each piece goes. I can’t force pieces to fit together. There are times when I need Him to hand me the next piece and encourage me to continue working, but ultimately the process I (we) am in is just as important as “arriving at the completed puzzle”.

God is working to strengthen my “summer brain” because the challenge of completing this “puzzle” is just scratching the surface of the challenges that He has set before me (us) in the next stage of life. I have been telling myself…."this is just a 100 piece puzzle.” It seems hard to my 5 year old capabilities, but it is growing me to be able to face the next puzzle…which is likely a 1,000 pieces!

Not giving up today!
AT

She's Five!

The baby girl turned 5 today! We spent the morning swimming at the Bird family pool and playing with friends. Thanks for a wonderful day everyone!

As you can see, Grace had a fun time. These are the types of pictures (wet, crazy hair & tired) that she'll kill us for posting in 10 years! :)

Well, she may be 5, but I guess at the end of the day she's still our baby..."lellow blankie", thumb & all!