One beautiful Saturday I was faced with a choice: think positively. find the best in the situation, and encourage my family to do the same or lead them all down the dark, grumpy road I often traveled.
After a morning of work I envisioned an afternoon curled up on the couch with a new read. I rarely allow myself such indulgences and was I ever looking forward to it!
Only my youngest daughter and I were home when we realized the toilet was not flushing and refrigerator was not cooling. I quickly implemented many suggestions courtesy of YouTube.
An hour later I had nothing to show for my efforts.
When my husband appeared after a long morning of work himself, I smiled so sweetly and said, “Do you know what I am so grateful for?”
Surprise filled his eyes as he met my gaze and answered, “No.”
“I am so grateful we have 2 1/2 bathrooms.”
Puzzled, he asked, “Why?”
Smile in place I answered, “Because when one toilet isn’t working we still have two more in our home.”
He grimaced as I asked, “You want to know what else I am grateful for?”
Now wary, he waited.
“I am so grateful we have a chest freezer. It is so handy to have an extra freezer in moments when your refrigerator isn’t working.”
He eyed me for a moment and asked, “Is there anything else you are grateful for?”
Laughing I said, “many things, but those might not interest you nearly as much as the first two!”
He promptly ascended the stairs and flushed the toilet. It worked! Problem one solved, (of which he stole the credit! My YouTubing must have yielded more results than I originally thought!)
Next he took the temperature of the refrigerator: a balmy 58 degrees with the freezer not far behind at 52. Unplugging it, we both began pulling food from the freezer we might salvage and run to the blessing in the basement.
An hour later we determined it was time to go shopping. We made the best of it. We laughed and joked about all the crazy features your refrigerator can now sport and how connecting a camera to the inside might be beneficial while checking the status of the milk jug from work!
After scheduling delivery of our purchase we decided to seize a few extra moments for a date at McDonald’s. Celebrating our new purchase over ice cream, John took my hand and said to me, “You know, you staying positive made all the difference. Thanks!”
I smiled, knowing what my gut reaction had been. Oh no! This is so not happening today!
I thought of my ministry cards that sported one of my favorite verses. Philippians 4:8-9. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (NIV)
Before that morning had truly begun, I had reached into my purse and found one. I had recalled the day I designed the card, and picked that verse. I wanted to truly live it, not just recite it.
Many days I had failed both in thought and in deed.
But that one important Saturday, with God’s grace and reminding, I had remembered.
Thank You Lord, for helping me remember those verses! My mindset matters not only to me and my spiritual health, but also has the potential to affect others around me! Please help me to repeat that mindset everyday! Amen.