www.sandraevertson.com
9 years ago
Posted by
Victoria
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I take so many things for granted in my life. I often get blinded by the little irritations in my day and forget to look for the bigger blessings. I spend a lot of time praying that God would fill me with the Holy Spirit and help me have more patience, but that is a wasted prayer. When I came to salvation in Christ I received the Holy Spirit. That same powerful Spirit that rose Christ from the grave, that same spirit that empowered the disciples to action is already in me. I don't have to ask God every day to fill me with it, it is already there. I just have to tap into it and actually USE it. Part of using the fruit of the Spirit known as patience for me today was thinking of the things I should be grateful for instead of griping about them and getting impatient.
Standing in Walmart ( which is already irritating enough) buying groceries today I found myself getting frustrated because they were out of a few of the things I needed, but then I found myself thinking about how blessed I am to have the luxury of going into a store and getting all of my needs without worry. I thought about a friend of mine, who after visiting family in Cuba, told us all about how toilet paper is rationed (yes, you only get so much a month) and how things we take for granted like cereal and shampoo are luxuries there. They can't just walk into a store and see aisles and aisles of foods. We are so blessed to have so many choices available to us. I found my patience in that moment as I thanked God for allowing me to live in a country of plenty.
Sitting in Subway eating lunch with Lydia I was listening to a man fussing at his wife. He was very rude and loud and she was very embarrassed and apologetic. I was getting angry that he was acting so rude in front of everyone in there and especially because I had Lydia with me. I kept hurrying Lydia up so we could leave and was getting impatient with her for staring and eating so slowly. We finally left and we were walking out the door and I began to think about how lucky I am to have a good husband. I have been so blessed to have husband who gives up so much for us. He works hard to provide for our needs without complaint. He never shops for himself or asks for anything. He drives old beat up cars and buys me the new ones. He will give his last five dollars to help someone in need or buy his children ice cream on a hot day. He never complains about taking care of our girls. He puts them to bed every night, he packs lunches, ties shoes, changed diapers, and "babysits" so I can go to craft nights and church activities, and Girls nights out without ever saying a word. He helps me clean the house and does almost all our laundry. He never complains if I don't get things done and tells me I look great even when I have my hair pulled up and sweatpants on. He thanks me for dinner when I cook it and says he loves me daily. I found myself praying silently for that woman and thanking God for the man he placed in my life. I could never ask for a better Father for my girls or a better husband for me. May I never take that blessing for granted.
Standing in line at the checkout counter I was getting ill at the couple in front of me. She was in a motorized cart and he was helping her get her stuff out and on the counter. Lydia began to fuss, time was ticking to go get Emma, and I began to wish that she would just hurry up and if she wasn't fighting with the motorized cart and waiting on him to get everything then maybe they would be able to move a little quicker. Lydia looked up at me and made a comment about the poor lady in front of us whose legs didn't work ( because she was on the cart instead of walking) and I took a deep breath and realized she was right. I should not be complaining about her when I was standing there all healthy and happy. I don't know what her health issues may be. I should be grateful that I am able to walk and run instead of irritated that she is moving too slow. I have been blessed in my life with good health. I have never had surgery, I have never had pain, I have never had anything worse than a stomach bug or a head ache. God has blessed me with health up until now and I have never had to suffer with illness or disease. I do thank God for my health daily but I don't show gratefulness when I get impatient with those who aren't blessed in that area. Thank you God for using my little one to show me the blessing of health you have given me in my life.
I think God is showing me that the patience and kindness and gentleness that I seek is already within me thanks to His power and His spirit. I am the most grateful for the salvation through Christ which allowed me to be filled with the Spirit who gives me that power...now all I have to do is use it!
"And now you have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago" Eph. 1:13 "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." 2 Cor. 3:17-18
Standing in Walmart ( which is already irritating enough) buying groceries today I found myself getting frustrated because they were out of a few of the things I needed, but then I found myself thinking about how blessed I am to have the luxury of going into a store and getting all of my needs without worry. I thought about a friend of mine, who after visiting family in Cuba, told us all about how toilet paper is rationed (yes, you only get so much a month) and how things we take for granted like cereal and shampoo are luxuries there. They can't just walk into a store and see aisles and aisles of foods. We are so blessed to have so many choices available to us. I found my patience in that moment as I thanked God for allowing me to live in a country of plenty.
Sitting in Subway eating lunch with Lydia I was listening to a man fussing at his wife. He was very rude and loud and she was very embarrassed and apologetic. I was getting angry that he was acting so rude in front of everyone in there and especially because I had Lydia with me. I kept hurrying Lydia up so we could leave and was getting impatient with her for staring and eating so slowly. We finally left and we were walking out the door and I began to think about how lucky I am to have a good husband. I have been so blessed to have husband who gives up so much for us. He works hard to provide for our needs without complaint. He never shops for himself or asks for anything. He drives old beat up cars and buys me the new ones. He will give his last five dollars to help someone in need or buy his children ice cream on a hot day. He never complains about taking care of our girls. He puts them to bed every night, he packs lunches, ties shoes, changed diapers, and "babysits" so I can go to craft nights and church activities, and Girls nights out without ever saying a word. He helps me clean the house and does almost all our laundry. He never complains if I don't get things done and tells me I look great even when I have my hair pulled up and sweatpants on. He thanks me for dinner when I cook it and says he loves me daily. I found myself praying silently for that woman and thanking God for the man he placed in my life. I could never ask for a better Father for my girls or a better husband for me. May I never take that blessing for granted.
Standing in line at the checkout counter I was getting ill at the couple in front of me. She was in a motorized cart and he was helping her get her stuff out and on the counter. Lydia began to fuss, time was ticking to go get Emma, and I began to wish that she would just hurry up and if she wasn't fighting with the motorized cart and waiting on him to get everything then maybe they would be able to move a little quicker. Lydia looked up at me and made a comment about the poor lady in front of us whose legs didn't work ( because she was on the cart instead of walking) and I took a deep breath and realized she was right. I should not be complaining about her when I was standing there all healthy and happy. I don't know what her health issues may be. I should be grateful that I am able to walk and run instead of irritated that she is moving too slow. I have been blessed in my life with good health. I have never had surgery, I have never had pain, I have never had anything worse than a stomach bug or a head ache. God has blessed me with health up until now and I have never had to suffer with illness or disease. I do thank God for my health daily but I don't show gratefulness when I get impatient with those who aren't blessed in that area. Thank you God for using my little one to show me the blessing of health you have given me in my life.
I think God is showing me that the patience and kindness and gentleness that I seek is already within me thanks to His power and His spirit. I am the most grateful for the salvation through Christ which allowed me to be filled with the Spirit who gives me that power...now all I have to do is use it!
"And now you have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago" Eph. 1:13 "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." 2 Cor. 3:17-18
