It’s amazing how much time we spend waiting on the perfect time to do something. My last post was written 7 years ago! Being a perfectionist is funny because we think we have to be perfect to begin a new adventure or project, whatever, but waste so much time in between doing the thing. So much has happened in 7 years. It’s almost like waking up from a deep sleep!
Anyway, now that I’m done being perfect or trying to attain a certain level of perfectionism that I’ll never reach, I’m going to write again. The best case scenario is that I’ll edit these posts several times. Ha!
A long time ago, my mom gave me a book called Praise Works! by Merlin R. Carothers. The gist of the book is to give thanks no matter what the situation entails. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Giving thanks is such an interesting concept and to someone as cynical as me, can make it sound like we’re being pretty sarcastic or snarky. However, when my back is “against the wall” as they say, I find myself giving thanks because honestly, it works! It’s really easy to praise the Lord when life is going smoothly, but can you give thanks when everything is going wrong? If anything, giving thanks changes you for the better, of course. In this lifetime, we’ll go from triumph to triumph and glory to glory; although the in-between is sometimes a little messy, or plain ol’ ugly! Before I had my first son, Hazi, I had a chemical pregnancy. I literally lost the pregnancy a few days after I found out I was expecting. I had some hope though, so my husband rushed me to the ER to get an ultrasound. There was nothing there. Of course, anyone woman who has gone through this knows that whoever is administering the ultrasound, will not let you look at the monitor if there is a problem. I never saw the monitor. To say I was devastated would be an understatement. I remember that book that my mom gave me and I began giving thanks for this situation. I’m not a naturally positive person, but through the anguish I managed to say thanks.
While I was waiting to be discharged, a lady came in and cleaned the room. I may be an introvert, but I don’t mind talking to people every now and then…especially when I’m stressed and need to get my mind off of things. I have no idea why, but I shared with the woman why I was there (at the ER) and this woman blessed me! She told me about how she lost a baby and she told me how the Lord gave her three sons, back-to-back! Well, that was almost 15 years ago and if you know me now, you know that I have a lot of kids.
Now I know that giving thanks doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll always get what you want, so naysayers don’t come for me! However, what if the key to getting through a situation was praising God as opposed to complaining? I usually am the one complaining (just ask my husband ) so I really have to remind myself of that after spending time in anguish.
So how about this? The next time you encounter a tough situation, try praising God and giving thanks!
Diary of a Warrior Bride 