Pickles & Praise

Early morning… This may be my most favorite part of the day. The sun just starts to dampen the ocean of stars and slowly they dance away as everything awakens with the light. I sit on my porch in one of my two favorite rocking chairs that grace my little stoop. I hear the wind lightly rustle the trees and a bird or two wake the neighbors with their chirps and coos. If you sit still enough, allow your mind to rest, and think on nothing you can hear the rhythm of one’s heart. There has been so much going on lately I’ve almost forgotten how precious these moments of solitude are. The daily grind and our habit to alway “do” sometimes swindles us from the opportunity to sit and be still. Lately my heart has been pressed and stained with the ink of the word “gladness”. I have been in a season of healing and obedience, but you already knew that.

Let me tell you … these seasons are not for the faint of heart, because most days… my walk with Jesus tends to be him reminding me what he’d like me to do… me stubbornly questioning it, and then doing it anyway…

The worst part? It sometimes tends to be with a begrudging heart. We are called to do even these things with gladness. Please don’t misinterpret my musings to think I am not joyous or happy. I am most content, and have grown to become re-thankful for the small things. I appreciate them more, I soak them in more…. but back to the point…

God rarely calls us to do things that make us comfortable , in fact, he has a habit of calling us to actions that are against our human ability to comprehend or process. What makes sense to Him…. there is no logic for us …. but he calls us to do those actions with gladness. Have you had something that God called you to do? … but you find yourself saying “ok God but ONLY because YOU say so…” or “I don’t like this God but okay I guess.” I imagine God hears this and it makes him feel the same as if we would.

Let me put it into perspective. You ask your spouse to start the dryer so that your clothes can fluff and you’ll fold them shortly. You will do your part and will be giving you and your spouse new options for outfits this week. All he/she has to do is push the button for you and you will be doing all of the work…. folding, putting away, changing the load to a new one…

Spouse sighs loudly at your request… gets up stretches and ever so SLOWLY walks to the dryer to push the button all the while making comments like. “I’m only doing this for you,” or “Why do I have to restart the dryer.” “Why couldn’t you do this when you got up to make more coffee.” …. See what I mean ? Now… imagine the same scenario only this time your Spouse jumps up, gives you a kiss on the head, and says “OK babe! While I’m up do you want me to refill your coffee? Thanks so much for keeping up with our laundry. I know it’s not your favorite and I want you to know how much I appreciate you.” … I feel like God is teaching me to do things he asks with more appreciation that he’s WORKING and asking me to take a minor part in his plan. Do you have an area you can display more gladness? What area is that?