STOP Find Your Silver Lining & Choose Praise

From the Jan/Feb 2018 issue of Cherished Magazine

I woke up with a mild headache. Hadn’t slept well the night before. The
baby was teething again. She’d been awake in the night fussing, which had
awakened the toddler, whose complaints were anything but quiet, waking the
other children too.

Getting everyone settled again had taken a while. Finally, I laid my head
back down, only to have it happen again as soon as I drifted off to sleep.

This morning did not seem to be shaping up any better. The biggers were
grumpy, the toddler whiny and the baby, still teething, only wanted to be
held – by Mommy.

In that moment, I had a choice.

Give in, give up, and join the grumpies for the day, ensuring we’d all be
miserable together.

Or stop, and try to find the silver lining.

Grumpy was easier, that’s for sure.

But I also realized it wouldn’t be very profitable, and I didn’t want to be
“the grumpy mom.”

Choosing Praise

Silently breathing a prayer for strength, I sat down with the baby and
started humming a calm soothing tune. I would choose praise.

I will praise you, praise you. For you are worthy of praise.

I will sing to you in worship. all through the day.

I remembered a verse I’d memorized in childhood: “This was the day my Lord
had made…”, and he does all things well. My babies wouldn’t be babies
forever. One day they’d want anything but cuddles and holding.

My hum turned into a soft song as the baby settled. Soon the toddler
climbed up beside us, blanket in tow and started singing too.

I will praise you, praise you. For you are worthy of praise.

Jesus, you are Lord of all, and worthy to be praised.

The song brought the biggers in to see what was happening, and soon we were
all sharing a song and enjoying reading some books together. Grumpies
averted.

Sound like a Fairy Tale?

It doesn’t have to be. In each and every life (and parenting) moment,
you and I have a choice. We can choose to see the
negative or choose to focus on the positive.

Yes, the kids were grumpy. Yes, I had  a headache, but I could still
choose to praise the Lord, in spite of how I was feeling, and thank him for
the cuddles and precious time with them; turning the potential crisis into
a memory making moment.

Whatever your circumstance today, Friend, I hope you will choose to cherish
those little blessings in your home, and that you will also choose praise!

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