Being Grateful - Even for the Messes

This past weekend was filled to the brim, but resulted in very little sleep for me.  Monday morning, when the alarm went off, I seriously wanted to just turn it off and go back to sleep.  But, I knew I had to get up and get the kids breakfast and off to school.  I was tired and grouchy.

As I made breakfast and packed lunch boxes, I looked around and saw messes all over the place. Some of those messes were made by others in my family, but some of them were made by me.  However,  I let those messes that were made over the weekend (but that we didn't have time to take care of) get to me and I allowed them to change my attitude. 

As the kids ate breakfast and my husband was in the kitchen and ready for work, I was allowing my attitude to spoil the little bit of time we were going to have with all six of us together for the whole day. I began emptying the dishwasher and rinsing off other dishes getting them ready for the dishwasher. I wanted to yell out, "I'M NOT YOUR MAID!", but I didn't. Thankfully.

Suddenly, I stopped.  I thought about my attitude and my family.  I thought about the water running and the dishwasher ready to fill up again.  Last week we were without power and without hot water for five plus days.  We were sooooo excited when it came back on. Now here I was, six days later, getting upset and complaining about the messes I needed to take care of, and that I was going to be able to take care of with the conveniences of electricity and hot water.

At that moment my attitude turned to gratitude.  I chose to be grateful right then - even for the messes. For ALL of the messes. Not that I don't expect my family members to help out and take care of their own messes, but grateful that I have the resources to take care of those messes.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:15-16

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