It had been a rough day at our house. Work was stressful and I left work later than normal, then I had errands to run so we didn’t get home until almost 5:00. Supper still needed to be cooked and Brienne needed to be back at school for a meeting at 6:00. The little kids had several pages of homework plus they each had school projects to complete. Laundry was piling up (I can never seem to catch up on that chore!), dishes were piled in the sink because the dishwasher was full (clean but full), and I was feeling very overwhelmed.
It was just too much for this mama.
And I lost my cool.
This hasn’t happened much lately, which I’m thankful for. I remember when my kids were really little, I would lose it quite often. But lately, things had been going pretty smoothly. Too smoothly…
As I sat down to dinner with my children, I talked to them about my behavior, apologized, and asked them to forgive me. It’s not always easy to admit to your child that you’re wrong, is it? But it has been so good and healing for me to do that on a regular basis when I mess up. I want my kids to know that we all make mistakes and that we need to own those mistakes and ask for forgiveness from others.
Later as I sat with God’s Word, I came across Psalm 84:4: “How blessed are those who dwell in your house! They are ever praising you.”
I heard a question in my spirit.
Do I praise Him all day long?
Of course the answer is no. I don’t.
I feel like there has been a shift in my spirit, though, since putting together my prayer journal and focusing on God’s attributes. It has become a little easier to praise Him for who He is.
But I don’t do it all day long.
Focusing on praise means being intentional about who God is, the greatness of His power, His love for us. But it also means having a posture of thankfulness for what He has given us.
Trust me – I don’t always have a posture of thankfulness.
But I want to.
Even when I’m frustrated with my job or with my kids or with my husband, I’m grateful for them. And when I choose to be grateful, my attitude shifts toward patience and forgiveness and joy.
Colossians 3:12-14 says this:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
So today I am choosing to clothe myself with patience and kindness and love while “ever praising” Jesus. Will you join me?