the kids' rooms beginning soo messy, the laundry that piles up,
the meals that need cooking, the groceries that need to be purchase AGAIN,
how tied to the house we are with the demands of schooling,
a teething baby that wants to be comforted my mama only (or at least it seems like that)
and the list goes on.....
I read a quote a while back...
Before the Lord God made man upon the earth He first prepared for him a world of useful and pleasant things for his sustenance and delight.... They were made for man's use, but they were meant always to be external to the man... In the deep heart of man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come. Within him was God; without, a thousand gifts which God had showered upon him.
But sin has introduced complications and has made those very gifts of God a potential source of ruin to the soul.
taken from The Pursuit of God by A.W.Tozer
And THAT is exactly what I do when I complain.... I see my own goals and wants as the "right" way and demand that everyone and everything fits within MY goals instead of seeing things with God at the center!! And those very sweet gifts that I have been given by God - my sweet (but messy) kids, my great husband, the ability to stay home with my kids, homeschool them - all become sources of ruin and strife.
very sad.
But when I feel that "complaint" come rumbling to the surface, I know that focusing on these things as gifts of God, sweet blessings instead of burdens. Or ways that I can grow in Christ-likeness or serve my family... helps!
So I attempt to be thankful through it all.... messy rooms, books opened with learning happening all day long, and a baby in my arms...
and continue to add to our gratitude list...
92. beautiful spring-like days
93. new life after the winter
94. a spring garden in bloom
95. an afternoon to visit a friend's old house96. a cellar to explore (the kids could have played all day in there)
97. gentle breezes98. fields to run through
99. climbing high with Daddy
100. big sister's help
So thankful for the relaxing local trip to friend's "farm" and getting to enjoy the beautiful weather as a family together!! Definitely a gift:)The first picture is also for macro monday:)
8 comments:
I hear ya, friend. Some days I feel like all I'm doing is complaining. Then, that's when I realize my heart is not right, and I need Jesus even more!!
I loved the pictures! What a great place for the kids!
your macro is great, but I must be honest here, I love the last photo best...the big sister help.
My Monday feature is: COLORFUL fungus
Such a beautiful list. Your family is precious... love all the photos! A family trip sounds like so much fun!
Great photos. I love your macro. Lots of stuff to be thankful for.
Those are awesome photos!!
Macro Monday
Lovely selective focus in the first image.
Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday. And THANK YOU for this post and that quote. I am guilty of taking gifts of God and making them sources of ruin to my soul. And I am grateful to serve a God who continues to give gifts and to bring me back to Him.
I think my greatest weakness is my quickness to complain! I loved your quote from Tozer, as it is so true. Somehow, a thanful heart can't find room for complaints, and I'm learning. . . . slowly, but learning just the same! I love the picture of the big sister helping. Just the sweetest!!!!
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