When Mommy Needs an Attitude Adjustment

 

Today I went to the Library with my kids.

 On the way in, my son hit the handicapped door opener
and my daughter asked if she could do it on the way out.
No problem. We were in the Library for 45 minutes
and my son was the first one out.

Of course, he hit the button before anyone remembered
it was supposed to be Natalie’s turn. No problem, there was
still one more door and one more button = Crisis Averted!! 

Unfortunately, that door button did not work.

It was at that point that all the problems Natalie has
ever faced came crashing back into her mind.

This last one being the worst.

We have discussed countless times that she needs to put off complaining and put on thankfulness. Things that she doesn’t like or things that don’t go according to her expectations are going to happen to her for the rest of her life. God commands us to be thankful. Why? Because it’s good for us. We have to start thinking about something else like being thankful that if the button doesn’t work we can use our hands and our legs to get through the door, etc. to get our minds off of the “problem”. Through the tears she said, “I don’t care.”

I have been discouraged because I have felt restricted by my kids. You know when you first bring a newborn home. All night you are interrupted in varying intervals. You feel a little like a zombie, and you don’t fully realize how much until the first night you get a full nights sleep and you feel like a new person. That’s how I was feeling during the day. I hope this makes sense to you :) I would have things I wanted to do, but just as I was getting started I would have an “interruption” in whatever form you pick. I understand that I’m not supposed to view my kids as an interruption, but “I didn’t care”. 

I did that for two days. I could feel myself getting “darker”. I didn’t like it, but I wasn’t doing anything to fix it. When I had to explain the process of Putting Off Complaining and Putting on Thanksgiving (as I have done countless times), it just clicked in my own head. That’s what I was doing. I was complaining. When I couldn’t get the things done that I wanted, I pouted and got discouraged. I still did most of the things in my day correctly, but I didn’t have any joy and I was snappy, i.e. unkind, toward my husband and kids.

I asked God and my family to forgive me, and I was able to refocus.

“Lord, help my priorities be your priorities. Help me to be the wife and mother that you designed me to be. And help me to be constantly teachable and moldable to be Your kind of person.”

 

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.