Gifts We Overlook

Dear God,  
 Please give me the strength to withstand my many blessings.

I saw that on a plaque in a catalog once.  At least it was something to that affect.  I kind of chuckled at it thinking it was a joke about putting up with our families.  But today after thinking about it I realized that we really DO need God to give us the strength, the humility to be appreciative of what are His many blessings.

As I walked across my living room today after returning from Bible study, I noticed some music sitting on the rack of my piano.  Yesterday I had worked on a song that we are going to introduce in this coming Sunday's worship.  It brings me so much pleasure to be able to sit down and play music that I love.  But it wasn't always that way.  I can remember a time when seeing music on the piano music rack made me cringe inside.  It was a reminder that I needed to practice for piano lessons and I did not like going to lessons or practicing.

Thankfully, God gave me the strength to withstand the blessing of a mom and dad who made sure I practiced and that I went to lessons all those years.  He gave my parents the grace to listen to my pleas to quit and the discipline to make me keep going as long as possible.

I am blessed to live in a beautiful, large home and to be able to stay home to take care of it and my family.  I remember telling my brother-in-law, The Bricklayer, when he was staying with us to brick our house that "laundry is the bricks of my life".  He had grown sick and tired of handling bricks every day of his life. Well, I let him know I felt his pain and that for me laundry was my "bricks".  But the truth is, when I return home after being gone any length of time, one of the things I look forward to is doing laundry in my little room off the kitchen.  Handling my family's clothes and dirty underwear.  Well, sure, I sometimes complain about it but they are my family and it brings me joy to do it.

If you know me, you know that I have a 135 pound St. Bernard living in my house.   Most a lot of days I complain about the dog hair that is a constant bane to my existence.   And, yes, there is flung mung on my walls from time to time all the time.  But I know that it is most likely a brief time on this earth that I will know the unwavering love and loyalty of my dear friend and companion.

And then there are the 5 kids.  More than anything else in the world I always wanted to be a mom.  It would take me years to list all of the things my kids have taught me about God, myself, how to love better.  Each of my kids is unique and has their idiosyncrasies that have pushed me to my limit.  My limit.  And so by going past my limited love and patience God used them to hoist me onto His shoulders that are limitless.

I needed to think about some of my blessings today.  There are SO many more.

Here's to hoping you give God the chance to give you the strength  to withstand your blessings today!

           Take a look at this:    Go to youtube and type in Onetimeblind  More Coke