A bit of perspective...

Just a few days ago, I was grumbling...yes, grumbling.  I am by no means "OK"ing my choice to complain.  I'm just admitting that I was just there.  In.  a.  pit.  And I was very happy to remain there.  I had been grumbling about something I was doing and felt obligated...doing something just because it had to be done and was the right thing.  BUT not at all because I WANTED to do it and I was definitely NOT cheerful about it.  Ever been there?

I knew I should not be feeling like that.  I tried to pull myself out.  I said Bible verses that would be encouraging...I tried to sing...I even made a call to a good friend...and yes, I prayed.  But I still wanted to drop-kick the situation.  Yes...drop it...and kick it...far, far away.  Nothing I did seemed to help.

That same night, my husband and I went to pray with a family...a family put on a course they would have never chosen for themselves.  And you know what?  The walls of that pit I had been in just melted away when I thought of the enormity of the situation they are facing and the absolutely pitifully miniscule thing I was set on complaining about.

Perspective...reality...both hit me like a ton of bricks.  What in the world was I thinking?!  Who cares honestly about the nitty when this family is facing the gritty...the yuck...the gut-wrenching.

I can hear my mom telling me, "Jennie, get out there and do something for someone else."  And you know what?!  She's right.  When I feel that awful pit trying to suck me into its bottomlessness, I want to remember this...helping someone else out can give a person a healthy perspective of the blessings that God has given and the ways that He has set me back on a good path instead of being stuck.

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Lord,
Thank You for the reminder...
that You do have a good plan...
that I can trust You, even when I don't understand or LIKE the scenario...
that as You remove one thing, You replace it with something even better...
that I can live with a thankful heart even when I don't FEEL like it...

AND thank You for my wise mom!