Why is it that whenever I run into Wal Mart with only one item needed I walk out with a cart full of things? Seriously, I go from a $10.00 item to spending over $100.00. It’s crazy, or ‘cray cray’ as my niece would say. The problem is I pick up things as I walk along, many times without much thought. I grab this and a little of that, and stock up here and refill something there…where does it stop? Let’s not even talk about the grocery section, because one item will always become 20. (I am not going to mention the things I grab when I walk into the store hungry…it’s not pretty…actually, I should probably just go undercover when this happens.) Needless to say, it would be better if I left all the ‘quick grab’ items and only picked up the good stuff.
Every one of us, as we journey through each day, ‘pick up’ things that are better left alone. Often it’s when we interact with others. They may be angry, negative, or feeling defeated. Instead of just supporting them, we inadvertently take on and internalize their emotions. It’s not healthy to carry that negativity around all day. Instead, when we are thinking about the difficult situations our friends and co-workers face, we need to renew our minds, to: ‘think good thoughts‘ as my friend Sarah would say. Then our rough day gets transformed into a brighter day. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (Romans 12:2, NLT) Let’s make a decision to keep our days positive, to pay attention to what we ‘pick up’. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8, NIV)
Things to do today:
- Count your blessings. Take time to think of the good things that are in your life.
- Read a similar post called ‘Think Good Thoughts’ and listen to songs Surrounded (Fight My Battles) and God I Look to You.
My youngest brother, Bob, is a charter boat captain on Lake Erie. Most days you’ll find him on the lake with groups of eager fishermen ready for a day of fun. They’re fishing for walleye and yellow perch. However, the white perch, invasive to Lake Erie, gets caught too. This was the case when Bob took my family fishing. I was amazed at the dozens of times a white perch was on someone’s line. My brother, who’s an expert in his field, knew exactly what to do. He’d unhook the offensive fish and immediately drop it back in the water; the large walleye was dropped into the ice cooler. Bob knew to hold onto the good and let go of the bad.
During this Christmas season, let’s take time to recognize and enjoy the perfect moments. Recently I watched my 3 year-old nephew Benjamin for a few hours. It didn’t matter to us what we chose to do, as long as we were doing it together. We made Play-Doh cookies, fought imaginary lions, and build a fort under the dining room table. Laying under the table reading the same book over and over was my personal favorite. There were blankets to cover the chairs, a ‘secret’ entrance, and pillows and blankets to make our space cozy. There wasn’t much room under that table, so we snuggled close as we read. What do you call that time together? A perfect moment.
When God sent His angel to tell the world where Jesus would be born, you’d think he would have gone to the Bethlehem mayor’s office. The news stations would have loved that scoop, or even the Bethlehem News Messenger would want a chance at the story. I wonder why He didn’t just post it on Facebook? There were so many ways God could have announced His Son’s birth, but He chose to share it with the lowly shepherds. Luke 2:8-12, “And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 
I’m thankful I live in a small town. Most of the people in a small town will never make the national news, but that doesn’t stop them from making a difference in the lives of the people around them. By leading with their hearts, they change their corner of the world. Recently, there was a family who lost their home and possessions to a house fire. The school district came together and donated appliances, furniture, household items, and bags and bags filled with clothes for all members of the family. Another town put together a Thanksgiving food bank for those who couldn’t afford to make that dinner for their families. Many churches are packing Christmas shoeboxes full of presents to be sent to needy children around the world. High school students are collecting items for the Ronald McDonald House, and middle school students are collecting canned goods for a local food bank. The list of giving goes on and on.
I’m thankful for music. I’m thankful that one song can magically lift your spirits and change your entire outlook in an instant. One of my favorite memories is of my mom, my niece Savana, and I in the car singing together. We’d sing at the top of our lungs, then erupt in fits of laughter. Suffice it to say we’re not expecting to win any voice competitions but we’d get points for high energy and strong teamwork. My niece Taylor and I have a song too. When it comes on the radio our eyes light up and we jump right into the lyrics. Personally, I think we’d make great back-up singers, because we even have a few moves to compliment the song. My nephew Benjamin loves to dance, so we’ve ‘busted a few moves’ together. Ben can’t help it, his little body just starts wiggling when he hears a song. It’s a proven fact, our joy increases when we hear music.
This summer my niece and her family transformed an old rundown farmhouse into a comfortable, refreshing place to live. You should have seen how it looked when they started! It needed new paint in every room, the mice had to be asked to leave (evicted is a better way to put it), and water lines had to be repaired. Ceilings were raised, the stairway opened, and more windows were added. When the air conditioning went in I believe my niece did a dance for joy (and who doesn’t love a little air on those hot and humid summer days?). The transformation didn’t happen overnight and yet they now live in a beautiful home filled with kids’ laughter, family and friends, and the soft purr of an air conditioner.