It had been a long day. Believe me, one of the last things I wanted to do that evening was deal with that sticky mess.
I had worked all day at our MOPS yard sale. As I was transporting some things that afternoon, I took a turn too sharp. Three gallons of lemonade fell over in the back of the van, and gushed over my flip flop wearing feet on the driver’s side. What a mess!
My first reaction was not one of poise. I grumbled a bit, and more than a bit on the inside. I decided to finish what I needed to do, then tackle the mess when I got home. Andrew’s feet went “squish, squish” on the carpet and my left foot stuck to my flip flop.
When I finally arrived home later that afternoon, I dreaded this sticky, messy job of cleaning up the lemonade. I was giving myself a pep talk in my head. I knew it had to be done and that I needed to just do it, and stop thinking about it. I prayed in my heart, “Lord, I need your help.”
I looked around and this thought stirred in my heart, “give thanks in all circumstances”. I started to list some of my blessings. Sunshine. Chirping birds. Two healthy boys running around in the yard. A borrowed shop vac. I had so much to be thankful for! I praised the Lord for each of my blessings.
I thought of more blessings: We just ended a very successful fund raiser for MOPS…and I got to work along side some ladies that I love. Blooming lillies near my work area. Working limbs and a healthy body, so I am able to clean. It was lemonade, not milk!
I cleaned. Yep, it was a sticky mess. The wet/dry vac sucked up at least a gallon of lemonade. And I had to scrub, scrub, scrub. It was work, but I hummed most of the time. I even laughed at myself!
I quote these verses a lot because they have been a good reminder for me through many sticky messes in life:
"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
I had worked all day at our MOPS yard sale. As I was transporting some things that afternoon, I took a turn too sharp. Three gallons of lemonade fell over in the back of the van, and gushed over my flip flop wearing feet on the driver’s side. What a mess!
My first reaction was not one of poise. I grumbled a bit, and more than a bit on the inside. I decided to finish what I needed to do, then tackle the mess when I got home. Andrew’s feet went “squish, squish” on the carpet and my left foot stuck to my flip flop.
When I finally arrived home later that afternoon, I dreaded this sticky, messy job of cleaning up the lemonade. I was giving myself a pep talk in my head. I knew it had to be done and that I needed to just do it, and stop thinking about it. I prayed in my heart, “Lord, I need your help.”
I looked around and this thought stirred in my heart, “give thanks in all circumstances”. I started to list some of my blessings. Sunshine. Chirping birds. Two healthy boys running around in the yard. A borrowed shop vac. I had so much to be thankful for! I praised the Lord for each of my blessings.
I thought of more blessings: We just ended a very successful fund raiser for MOPS…and I got to work along side some ladies that I love. Blooming lillies near my work area. Working limbs and a healthy body, so I am able to clean. It was lemonade, not milk!
I cleaned. Yep, it was a sticky mess. The wet/dry vac sucked up at least a gallon of lemonade. And I had to scrub, scrub, scrub. It was work, but I hummed most of the time. I even laughed at myself!
I quote these verses a lot because they have been a good reminder for me through many sticky messes in life:
"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Through my lemonade circumstance, I was reminded that life sometimes gets sticky, and we have to deal with it. We all have our messes both big and small. Yet, no matter what circumstance we find ourselves in, God is good all of the time! There is plenty to be thankful for. We can grumble and complain or we can choose to praise through all of life’s stickiness. We can even find joy in the midst of the mess. It really is a choice.
What will you choose today?
Awesome reminder!
ReplyDeleteAhhhh! Another great post that will 'stick' in my mind for a long time. I give you kudos, kid. Me - I would have probably grumbed a lot more and a lot longer. If I was lucky, I might have thought thankful thoughts much later. Much later...
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of a saying, "Look for the small miracles and you'll find, they're everywhere."
HUGs
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteGirl, I would have been spitting and popping over THAT mess! lol I love your heart to remain joyful and stay thankful even with a sticky mess to clean up.
Lord, help me to choose joy and thanksgiving!
Blessings to you, sweet Rachel!