This morning was typical as it comes to getting the kids to school after a long holiday. It's funny how each child has their individual routine on getting up in the morning. I need to write a manual and publish each step on how to get my children out of bed with a smile on their face and a bounce in their step, eagerly ready for the challenges of the day ahead. I tried everything I could to bring encouragement to them as I woke them up, but there was just nothing working. I even sang the good morning song to Mac, and all I got was a low growl from her, followed by a daddy's wrapped around my finger plea. Pleeeeeease, do i have to go today? About that time I looked over and saw the small present my dog left in the floor for me. Now I'm struggling for joy and debating on giving the death penalty to both dogs just to make sure I got the guilty party. :) I reached down deep and chose mercy on the dogs, and to somehow ignore my little girl's sad eyes and said, "get up!"
It's garbage day so we hooked up our redneck garbage truck, which consists of the boys sitting in the back hatch of my car and holding onto trash cans on wheels as I try to hit third gear pulling the cans down the long driveway. Oh, we also have empty boxes stacked on my hood. We looked like a combination of the Clampits and Sanford and Son. Once in the car and heading to school, we began to talk about the day ahead. To them, nothing good could come from the day at school. I tried again to encourage, but my efforts were futile. I finally made this "matter of fact" statement with as much compassion as I could muster.
"We don't get to choose what comes to us each day, but what we can do is make the most of it, and look for the best in it and in people."
Now you have to understand, sometimes what I think are great words of wisdom to my children, are met with a deer in headlights look on their face. Sometimes I know they think, "what the heck are you talking about dad"? But today was different and I was amazed as their attitudes changed after this statement. They got it! We prayed together as we do every morning before school and they got out of the car with a bounce in their step and a smile on their face. I even got an apology from one child for giving my grief this morning.
I try to never downplay what my children consider important. What is small to us, may be big to them, and how they learn to deal with the small stuff will determine how they deal with big stuff later in life. I always learn a lesson from them. With all that said......... what about us? How have we learned to deal?
How do we approach each day? With dread, and a negative outlook? How do you approach a job that you don't want to go to? How do deal with people you don't like? The bible tells us in
Col 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
The cool thing is that Father God does have a manual full of things to help his children get out of bed with a smile on their face and a bounce in their step, eagerly ready for the challenges of the day ahead. Happiness is subjective, Joy is a choice.
"We don't get to choose what comes to us each day, but what we can do is make the most of it, and look for the best in it and in people."
Stacy
