Posts Tagged: grumpiness

GETTING RID OF THE MID-WINTER GRUMPIES

On January 14, 2017 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

 

I woke up grumpy this morning.  (I will spare you the ancient joke about the woman who said, “Sometimes I wake up Grumpy, and sometimes, I just let him sleep.”  . . .  Oops!)

Why?

Is it really so important for me to understand the why of things?  I doubt it.  But here goes anyway:

  • It is a grey, cold, icy day.
  • I’m not feeling well physically.
  • I’m worried about our financial condition.
  • I haven’t been sleeping well for the past several weeks.
  • We are going to a new computer order entry system at the restaurant where I work, and I am not sure that I can learn it.

But here is the bottom line: None of these “whys” are particularly wise or helpful.  They are not reasons.  They are excuses.  The truth is that I am crabby because I am choosing to be crabby today.

So, what am I going to do about this?

I’ve already done a few things.

  • I’ve made a gratitude list of 50 items.  (Perhaps I should go back and review it.)
  • I’ve read some Scriptures.  (Perhaps I could read, out loud, some praiseful passages.)
  • I already ate breakfast.
  • I can listen to some good, uplifting Christian music.  (Okay, so I just turned on K-Love radio.)
  • I can get some exercise later today.
  • I can do some fun stuff.  (Writing blogs is sometimes fun.)
  • I can get some significant work done.  (Writing blogs is work.  Significant?  Well, I hope that it is!)

There is one more thing I can do.  Oswald Chambers writes somewhere that “moods don’t go by praying; moods go by kicking!”  Yes!

So, that is my attempt to help myself (and you, gentle reader) with my (your) mid-winter grumpies.  Perhaps these things might work during any season of the year.

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PETALS OF JOY

On November 1, 2016 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

ON HAVING THROWING PETALS OF JOY THROWN AT US

 

“If you are saved, why hasn’t your face been informed?” (Source unknown.)

 

My wife and I were visiting family in Kentucky, a lively bunch of boys and one little girl who was obviously able to hold her own.

When we were about to leave for home, the two oldest boys (ages seven and five) began pulling petals off the likely last roses of summer, and throwing them on us.  “We’re throwing petals of joy on you!” they exclaimed.

Their mom eventually put the kibosh on them, fortunately before there was no joy left on the rose bushes themselves.

The rose petals, now pretty well shriveled—but still pretty—are still lying on our dining room table.  Memory is sometimes the loveliest form of joy.  As long as my mind is alive, I will remember the gift of joy those boys gave to my wife and me.

Do you and I throw petals of joy at other people?  Do we cherish the petals of joy that others throw at us?  Why should little kids have all the fun?

The life of Christians is (or at least should be) characterized by joy.  That is not to say that we Christians don’t have our share of grief and problems.  We do.  No human is exempt from grief and problems.

However, our default position should involve petals of joy?  Why?

Well, for one thing, we are commanded to rejoice.  Grumpiness is always an option for anyone, including believers in Christ.  However, chronic grumpiness that is chosen is a not-so-subtle form of disobedience.  “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!”  So says Paul, who was a prisoner of Rome at the time of writing his letter to the Philippians.  In fact, Paul says that he himself was rejoicing (Philippians 1:4, 25; 2:2,17f,29; 4:1; 1:18; 2:17f,28; 3:1; 4:4,10).  Of course, if Paul has to say something—and even repeat himself—it is probably because at least some of the believers in Philippi were acting as if they had been baptized in vinegar.

The Old Testament also commands joy.  Our worship leader read Psalm 96 this past Sunday.  Even nature (all creation) is to rejoice in the LORD!

Then too, throwing petals of joy makes both the thrower and “throwee” happier.

Of course, there are people who enjoy misery.  I used to often be one of those people myself.  However, perhaps you could try making people like I used to be more miserable by throwing some joy their way.  That way, you’ll be helping them, one way or the other.

However, one caution: Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  In fact it is the second aspect kind of the nine-fold fruit, mentioned right after love and right before peace.  Joy is nestled between love and peace, and if we are pursuing love and peace, then joy will be right at home in our hearts, our lives, and our relationships.

Be on the lookout for petals of joy today.  Be on the lookout, too, for opportunities to throw some petals at others.

 

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