Gifts from Above

No...not the gifts that land on your car when you park under a tree!!! I mean true gifts from God. Things you don't ask for, the surprises that come without desire, without need, without anything. They are just there. Here are a few of my gifts:

1) After 19 years of marriage and 15 years of being a mom, Lonnie finally cooked breakfast on Sunday morning!!! Didn't have to ask, didn't even care if breakfast got cooked that morning. He just did it. Awesome!

2) Found $5 dollars in a pocket of my purse this morning. Meant I didn't have to use the debit card to get a drink at Sonic!

3) Garrett so unexpectedly opened the car door to find a grouchy Guthri. He immediately started teasing her to make her laugh. We all laughed and are still grinning. Got her in a great mood and said, "I love it when she laughs!" Awwww......go ahead you know it made you grin too!

4) Got to have my ENTIRE conference this morning to myself! It was amazing....you would not believe how much I got done. Great!

The one gift that slaps me in the face when I allow it to is my children. Parenting can be so frustrating and make you question EVERY decision you have ever made in your life. I am so bad about seeing all the negative and focusing on the constant responsibility or the never ending laundry. Every once in a while (when I allow it) my kids just look at me and my heart melts.

Today, Guthri was in such a bad mood after school and was upset with her brother. He truly had done nothing wrong and was wanting to help her but for whatever reason she was just not going to let him be nice to her. She climbed into the back seat of the car and sat there pouting. I honestly thought she would fall asleep on the way home. Garrett opened the door and she literally tried to bite his hand. He just tapped her on the head and said, "It's time to go Mrs. McGregor." It was the funniest thing I have ever heard! He kept at her until she was laughing. He did it to not be annoying but because he loves her and wanted her to be happy. And when she did start laughing it was not just a giggle but a belly roll laugh. It was so refreshing and fun to just laugh with my kids. We laughed for over 20 minutes. Guthri came up and gave me a huge hug and told me "Even if I had a sister, I would still want Garrett for a brother." I know that sounds silly but most parents with more than one child can completely understand!!

Today, my gifts consisted of nothing that money could buy, nothing anyone could have planned for, nothing I even expected. Just my family, happy and loving. Best gift I have ever received!

Some People....

Have you ever dealt with someone and then walked away and thought "some people"? I do it all the time. I have to stop and make myself see the inner being of some people. God has placed a person in my life that I am constantly having to FORCE myself to see the inner being and the reason he/she is in my life. I had dodged this person at various events because I knew the personality and knew I could not handle it. I literally would hide or turn my back to keep from making eye contact. I just could not handle the belligerent talk, the sob stories, (to put it bluntly) the stupidity. This person drove me insane!

Well, low and behold, God planted this person right on my door step!!!!!! It was not funny, it was not something I thought I could handle. I struggle every day to deal with the attitude and force this person comes at me with. I look at what I can do for this person and think "That is why God put him/her in my life." Then, boom, he/she does something so ridiculous that I think I can't handle it. I take a deep breath and remember I am the Christian, the one that needs to give. Then, wham! Here it comes again.

A few nights ago as this person was basically assaulting me, I realized God put him/her in my life to teach me something. To teach me that I am to have more tolerance, I am to have patience, compassion, love even when it is sooooo hard for me. It is easy to talk a good game and to always say the right things but to actually live it is a total commitment to living like Jesus. I have to give myself to His will even when it is not comfortable or convenient. Hmmmm..."some people!" (Talking about myself here!)