This is how I felt earlier today.
I certainly hope it's not how I look!!!
I never really liked Snow White...but I liked the 7 dwarfs, except for the one in the picture.
I must be getting old. I keep waking up the exact same hour every single day, including Saturday! Gone are the days when I could sleep in until noon (well, with 2 kids, a miniature schnauzer, and cockatiel, I don't think so).
While tossing and turning, our dog "knocks" at my door begging that I let him out to relieve himself. This gave me a brilliant idea: it's time for the dog to go bye-bye! But then, I thought to myself, this dog can sometimes be easier to train than my 2 boys, and he never answers back, so I guess I'll keep him :)
At this point, I could no longer go back to sleep. All I wanted was to have a worry-free day (no plans, no trips, no nothing)! The "no-nothing-plan" led to lots of last-minute errand requests and the need to go to the office to end someone's contract...not to mention wait in line for an hour at the post office. Oh, and my executive decision to put off studying for finals (again) until tomorrow!
I then try to squeeze in a power nap in the afternoon. Didn't happen. I'm now feeling grouchy as ever!!! So, I decided to take the kids out for a ride and then get a car wash. A few minutes later, it started to rain. Don't you just love it when this happens???
By this time, I clearly knew that I was being put through a test. Call me crazy, but I managed to laugh it off as soon as it started pouring. It felt great! I immediately asked for forgiveness, thanked the Lord, and started to feel better about my day.
"A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
Proverbs 17:22
I thank God for giving me self-control today. I tend to hold back a lot of emotion while biting my tongue so as not to offend others and say things that I don't mean. After all, emotions easily come and go...so I might as well do the right thing by allowing the Lord to fill me with His Spirit, instead.
Then, I remembered what I had read from Scripture this morning-- Psalm 34.
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth. v1
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. v4
They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. v5
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. v7
O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him. v8
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing]. v10
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. v13
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. v14
[The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. v17
The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. v18
Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. v19
The entire chapter was a blessing. Actually, all of God's Word is a blessing! I'm so glad we have been given the freedom to have Bibles in this country. It's so easy to get all grouchy about the smallest little things when in reality, there is so much to be thankful for.
I thank God for using His Word, circumstances (in my case, the rain), prayer, and others to remind me of where my focus ought to be, that is, I should "bless the Lord at all times!"
So, which dwarf are you?
