Thursday Thanks Tank #117

Each Thursday I make a list of my thankful thoughts. I spend time throughout my day appreciating the little and big things in my life.

Here is what is filling up my Thanks Tank today:

Salad: I made myself a delightful one this afternoon.

Sunshine: The sun was out yesterday afternoon and all day today. Oh, is so nice (quite a change from the rainy northwest weather we have been having).

Rainbows:


Friends:
- that I can pray with
- that care for my kids
- that understand when my plans change
- that bring me lattes

Pictures: I had pictures taken of my kids in their Halloween costumes. (Oh yes, Halloween!) I love pictures of my kids. It doesn't matter what time of year it is.


My understanding husband: He's a good man.

Family Time: We have been enjoying more time than usual lately playing games together.

Sweet Words: Nothing like words that are sweeter than honey. (Psalm 119:103)

Sound Effects: I've been smiling today because of my 4 year old boy and his animated sound effects.

Lists: My lists are a lifeline to me this week (and last week and the week before).


Take time to be thankful today. You will be better off for it.

Still Comparing Apples to Oranges

I have trouble not comparing myself to others. I don't know why. It just happens. Before I know it, I am doing it. It is self destructive.

Even worse is when someone else judges me against others... no, I take that back, it is worse when I do it... it is just more frustrating when someone else compares me to another person.

I am who I am for better or worst. I strive to do better. I am constantly working to improve.

I am not meant to have all that others have.

I am not meant to excel in areas that others excel.

I do have talents and God-given abilities. Sometimes that means I am ahead of others in areas.

I have bad luck sometimes. Other times, I am extremely blessed through no merit of my own.

I don't always compare myself and feel like I don't measure up. Sometimes I compare myself and wish I didn't have what I have. I wish I could be someone else or somewhere else. I am often discontent with what I see around me because I want life to be more fair.

It's like the cry of my kids, "That's not fair!"

I long to excel. I also long to be more giving. I want to be content.

This comparison game that I struggle with is frustrating. One day I will wish I had more. A day or so later, I wish I had much, much less.

I want to grow my mental capacity, my emotional stability, my spiritual understanding, my physical healthiness, and my over all happiness.

In my growth, I want to be less.

I want to think less of myself and more of others.

Less of me means less comparing apples to oranges.


So, I fix my eyes on what is unseen. For I know that what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). I decide to live by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). I try to remember that I may never be happy with myself. It is okay. I must stop comparing myself and trying to be successful in my own eyes. My faith must continues to grow. I must shift my focus away from myself. I must submit my motives to God. (2 Corinthians 10:18: For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends.")

I want to think less of myself and more of others.

I want to think less of myself and more of God. Without Him, I am all about myself.
When my focus is self-centered, I continue to compare apples to oranges.

Friday Fun

My husband and my oldest son are at a Cub Scout lock-in tonight. My husband sent this picture to my phone. (My son is on the right.)

I texted my husband back and asked him what the boys were doing.
He said, "I told them to act like they were having fun."

I know they are having fun. I even know my husband is having fun. I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures and hearing lock-in stories. I just texted my hubby again to ask him to make sure to get at least one picture of him with my son. If that picture gets taken, I'll share it in another post.

What did I do tonight?? Oh, this Momma had fun. I had a babysitter come over and then I went to a friend's house. A group of us girls sat around and talked for hours. We also painted our toenails. I'd share a picture but I don't really like my feet. It was a wonderful night -just the break I needed. I had a very, very busy week.

What about the kids at home? They had fun, too. They had ice cream, enjoyed tickle fights, and listened to stories. My youngest even learned how to crawl out her crib while I was gone.
I'm not so sure that was fun for my babysitter.

That's it. That's all I've got... just a little post to let you know I'm having fun.

Frogs at Wal-mart

You know what I am learning this week? I am learning to not discount the perspective of others too quickly.

I don't think of myself as someone that would dismiss the ideas of others. And, yet, I did that this week because I already knew what I thought was best. I asked for input and then didn't take the time to fairly consider the input I got because it wasn't inline with what I was thinking.

Looking back, it seems like a mark of true immaturity.

Looking back, I am thankful that I recognized my mistake.

Sometimes when I am so focused on what I already know to be true, I fail to consider out of the box ideas or situations. I limit myself to what I know.

I don't want to do that. I don't want to be the kind of person that cannot see past the concrete to consider the abstract.

I didn't even contemplate all of this until my daughter showed me the frogs at Wal-mart.

We were hurriedly shopping because my To-Do list is a bit over-run with tasks. She kept saying "Fraa... Fraa!" and pointing up. I figured out she was saying frog. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why she was saying frog when we were headed to the diapers section. She wasn't just saying it, either. She was excited about the frog. It was one of those, 'what has gotten in to my 2 year old?' moments.

And, then I saw the frog face.


Now, I'll see the frog at Wal-mart everytime I visit. Just like that, something that has always been is forever changed for me. In one little trip to Wal-mart, my daughter gave me a vision of frogs and a gift of a new perspective.