My oldest daughter is now three and is going through a bit of an
Eeyore phase. No matter how pleasant things are around her, she can
find something that is just "terrible". The other day I told her she
needed to put her happy face on and she said, "I don't want to be
happy!" That pretty much sums it up. I have been frustrated over this, yet hopeful that it will pass in
time. A few days ago, during one of those trying times, I was
thinking about her actions. Suddenly, I was hit by a disturbing
thought: I often act the same way with God. God has blessed me with SO MUCH to be thankful for. I really have no
room to complain. Yet that is what I find myself doing. I have been
known to bring God a list of complaints or things I want Him to "fix"
for me to make my life more comfortable and convenient. If God
doesn't jump right on those things and take them away, I wonder how I
can endure them. I can treat God like a big, mean parent who isn't giving me my way.
When something good happens, I thank God for being so wonderful and
then turn around and get mad at Him when something bad happens. After much thought and prayer this Sabbath, I realize that it all
comes down to my choice. A choice to believe a lie that I am more
important than anything else or anyone else. Or a choice to believe
the truth that God is good and loving and powerful enough to help me
through whatever I need to go through. He never changes, but remains
the same. It is me who changes my attitude and belief system at the
drop of a hat (or change of a circumstance). I am much too sinful and inconsistent to be capable of altering my
behavior all on my own. I have discovered that I need to turn in my
lie and claim God's truth. Then I can allow the Holy Spirit to
transform my life to what it ought to be. And maybe then I can be the example to my daughter that she needs to
begin to change her ways. This week, instead of quoting Eeyore, "Thanks for noticin'" I will
tell God, "Thank you, no matter what!" Until next week,
Lisa G.
Eeyore phase. No matter how pleasant things are around her, she can
find something that is just "terrible". The other day I told her she
needed to put her happy face on and she said, "I don't want to be
happy!" That pretty much sums it up. I have been frustrated over this, yet hopeful that it will pass in
time. A few days ago, during one of those trying times, I was
thinking about her actions. Suddenly, I was hit by a disturbing
thought: I often act the same way with God. God has blessed me with SO MUCH to be thankful for. I really have no
room to complain. Yet that is what I find myself doing. I have been
known to bring God a list of complaints or things I want Him to "fix"
for me to make my life more comfortable and convenient. If God
doesn't jump right on those things and take them away, I wonder how I
can endure them. I can treat God like a big, mean parent who isn't giving me my way.
When something good happens, I thank God for being so wonderful and
then turn around and get mad at Him when something bad happens. After much thought and prayer this Sabbath, I realize that it all
comes down to my choice. A choice to believe a lie that I am more
important than anything else or anyone else. Or a choice to believe
the truth that God is good and loving and powerful enough to help me
through whatever I need to go through. He never changes, but remains
the same. It is me who changes my attitude and belief system at the
drop of a hat (or change of a circumstance). I am much too sinful and inconsistent to be capable of altering my
behavior all on my own. I have discovered that I need to turn in my
lie and claim God's truth. Then I can allow the Holy Spirit to
transform my life to what it ought to be. And maybe then I can be the example to my daughter that she needs to
begin to change her ways. This week, instead of quoting Eeyore, "Thanks for noticin'" I will
tell God, "Thank you, no matter what!" Until next week,
Lisa G.
