Well, as October has gotten underway, I am totally enjoying the cooler weather.  The days are still nice and warm, but the cool nights are heavenly.  I don't hear the "cha ching" anymore on my electric meter either since the A/C is not running, and that is a really nice feeling...:)

Something God has been teaching me this month has been about "choosing joy".  As many of you know, we are just into our second year of homeschooling and while we have always tried to raise our kids in a christian home, I have to admit that we weren't as diligent as we should have been and my girls don't have real great attitudes when it comes to helping out around the house.  They aren't bad, but they just don't have a servant's heart or attitude.  They will do what they are asked, but they will definitely let it be known they are not happy about it. 

I find myself daily feeling down and discouraged about their attitude, especially when they roll their eyes at me when I try to "teach" them why attitude is so important.  Their favorite words are, "I know", and "whatever".  Sigh....  I have just beat on the throne room of God daily seeking answers and help for this and God showed me something.

Everyday I would get upset with my girls for not having a good attitude about helping out with chores and I would start doing the chores myself (I did this because I was too tired to fight with them over it), but when I did them, I was muttering under my breath the whole time about how lazy and ungrateful my kids were being and then I would even mutter to God under my breath that I didn't understand why He wasn't hearing my prayers to change them.  And then, all of a sudden it hit me.  I wasn't modeling for them a servant's heart and attitude.  I was doing just what they were doing or rather, they were just doing what I had taught them to do by my example.  Ouch!

So, then I started praying and asking God to help me change my attitude.  When I go in and find the laundry hasn't been switched, or the kitchen tidied up, instead of muttering under my breath or complaining loudly in efforts to manipulate them into feeling guilty, God told me I had to make a choice.  I could choose to be joyful or I could choose to continue murmuring and complaining.  And God let me know I didn't have to "feel" joy in order to choose to walk in it. 

So, this week has been one in which I have really worked hard at choosing joy over murmuring and complaining and though it hasn't been easy, I feel, ever so slightly, a change occurring in my heart.  And maybe, just maybe, when my girls see that I have a good attitude towards chores, they will start to copy that as well.  And honestly, as I choose joy, it affects not just the housework, but all aspects of my life.  I truly can say that The joy of the Lord is my strength!  Choosing joy gives me strength to be what God wants me to be!  What an awesome God we serve!!

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Oct. 12, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Momto5

Thank you for sharing that with us. :-) It is a great reminder to all of us. It is so easy to fall into the habit of grumbling and complaining as we try to train our children. I know for me I sometimes have to sing a praise song to remind myself that everything is suppose to be done without grumbling and complaining and that everything I do is to be done unto the Lord. The best way to teach our children is to be that example - what a tough job it can be! Thank you again for sharing.
Blessings,
Tammy

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Oct. 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Happyhome

Great post. One of my favorite sayings is "fake it til you make it!" Sometimes we have to do what we need to do in our actions or attitudes, despite how we feel on the inside. Thanks for the timely reminder.

Ang

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Nov. 5, 2007 - Amen...

Posted by FaithfulGrace

So many times when I've been complaining to Him about such and such...He shows me how I need to be modeling that behavior too.
Keeping you in my prayers,
Linda

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Nov. 14, 2007 - thanks

Posted by Danika

Thanks for the uplifting thought.

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Nov. 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by ApplesofGold

What an excellent post!! I needed to read this today-thank you for sharing it.
I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving! Holly

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