PRAISE PROMPT ••• Our dog Sadie is a senior citizen, and she’s also a drama queen who will milk sympathy and attention anyway she can.
But yesterday was the kind of attention she absolutely did not want.
She needed a bath, and I know, if she spoke English, she would have been screaming, “I DON’T WANNA!”
However, the bath was necessary.
I warmed the water for her, got it soapy, scrubbed her down, and Wayne held her while I rinsed her off.
She had a yucky eye thing going on that we were able to clean up, but she let us know in very definite ways that she did not appreciate our efforts.
She sulked for over an hour after her bath.
I had a similar sulking incident shortly after Sadie.
We learned one of my tires is bad.
Beyond the fact that I don’t want to buy new tires, I have a really busy week ahead and I REALLY don’t like driving my husband’s van.
This isn’t a comfortable soccer-mom van.
It’s a noisy, stripped down cargo van that is perfect for my husband to carry drums to gigs, but not exactly noted for luxury performance.
I admit, I had a less than gracious attitude about it.
I know (even in the midst of my sulking) Wayne was looking out for my safety when he insisted I drive it.
Sometimes, we don’t like the things that are good for us or inconvenient for us.
Sadie and I both had less than ideal attitudes about things yesterday.
But we serve a God who can take a less than ideal situation and turn it to good.
I know that driving the van is preferable to having a blowout on the interstate.
And our neighbor’s eagle eye while standing in the driveway was a blessing that while inconvenient, may have saved me from a much bigger headache.
Philippians 2:14 says, “Do everything without complaining and arguing…”
I would love to argue the use of the word “everything,” but I’ve lost that debate before even starting.
It’s not easy, but that’s not the assignment.
A couple of chapters later, the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8b, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
The dog got over her attitude, and while I took a little longer to get over mine, I want to embrace the wisdom of focusing on the positive in every situation.
And also remember, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).
Today, let’s praise God for everyday opportunities to remember Who is in charge, and that He will sometimes use inconvenient moments for our own good.
