The day dawned hot and humid again. I groaned as I entered the bathroom that seemed steamy even before I turned on the water. I squashed a cockroach, mentally reminding myself to ask my husband about fumigating again, since the tropical rainy season was about to start.
I looked forward to my shower each morning as a way to wake up, take some
time to pray, and to collect my thoughts for the day ahead.
I took a deep, relaxing breath, opened the shower door and stepped in, then
just as quickly retreated in shock, heart racing. The water was frigid!
The coil in the instant hot water heater above the shower head was
obviously broken, and would have to be replaced, a twenty minute job…
In that moment I had a choice.
I could complain about the lack of modern conveniences here in tropical
Mexico. Complain that my husband had not remembered to check the coil on time.
Complain about cockroaches and humid mornings.
Complain about not being able to get my anticipated refreshing shower until
later in the day. I could stomp out of the shower, get dressed and go on
grumpily through my morning …
Or, I could praise the Lord.
I could choose to be thankful that we have running water at all. Many of my
missionary friends in other countries go weeks at a time without it.
I could choose to be thankful that my husband had been so busy with English
classes and Bible studies, building bridges with locals and talking to them
about Christ, that he hadn’t had time to change the coil or fumigate the house
yet.
I realized that my choice would affect not only my mood, but the mood of
the entire family as we started our day.
What about you?
Have you had a morning like this? Something went wrong or ruined your
expectation for the day? How did you respond? How did your response to that
situation affect your family?
"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall
continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble
shall hear thereof and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his
name together." Psalm 34:1-3
"I will" implies a choice. When does this passage say I will praise the
Lord? At all times.
When I chose to be thankful for running (though cold) water, and thankful
for my husband and the opportunities God was giving us, I was able to share
about those blessings with our children, reminding them that God cares for us in
every detail of our lives.
Praise is contagious.
The inconvenience of the cold water became a blessing as the Lord helped me
turn it into a teachable moment of praise and thanksgiving with my kids.
I challenge you today to view your inconveniences from the place of
blessing. How can you turn the temptation to complain into an intention to
praise and change the course of your day today?
BIO:
*This post is an excerpt from In Spite of Myself: How Intentional Praise
Can Transform Your Heart and Home by Katie Hornor, used by permission.
Katie Hornor writes at ParadisePraises.com. Purchase her new book In Spite of Myself and be encouraged by the lessons she's learned in choosing to praise, intentionally, as a wife, overseas missionary, homeschool parent and business owner. Click here or follow the #IChoosePraise hashtag on social media for information on the book, and to learn how to join Katie for a free 4-week Bible study on Praise.
1 comment:
Katie's book is a refreshing look at missionary life--but just like every mom's life. Any woman would profit from this fun, thoughtful, and biblical book about choosing praise. I enjoyed it and have already given two copies away. It's a great Bible study that any women's group would enjoy.
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