A Much Needed Pep Talk

There are very few things that get to me , if I had to pick the one thing that can set me off, it would be displays of ungratefulness in moments that I feel exhausted. I'm a giver and enjoy doing things for others. However, there are times that I want to see gratefulness. But how often am I ungrateful? This is the question I have to ask myself constantly. And a little pep talk to myself didn't hurt either:

God has gifted me with two precious children and it's amazing how precious they are to me. I'm are always there for them. I do so very much for them, while showering them with love and affection. My days are filled giving them attention and working to take care of them. I am both mom and dad and to my amazement at times, no matter how much I'm doing for them or with them, there are moments when they will be anything but grateful, displaying a total lack of appreciation as they demand even more from me when I've given so much or maybe they even display what seems like a very real dislike for me as they selfishly put themselves above me and all others. I find them living only in the moment they're in and so apt to focus only on their own circumstances. I wrestle sometimes with wanting to be their "friend" (because of course every parent loves see their children happy and give their children good things) when instead they need a firm parent that is not shaken or manipulated by expressions of unfairness or self pity. They must not learn that we owe them, but that they are blessed !! In fact, I read that it has been observed that one of the chief characteristics of a juvenile delinquent is the attitude that society owes them a living.

But how often do I now have the VERY SAME ungodly attitudes that I see in my children at times and without acknowledging that my attitude is towards my Heavenly Father, who has not only given me so much, but has done and continually does so much for me and there I am thinking of me, myself, and I ! Just like my children are with me at times (despite all I've done and do for them) - it doesn't matter how much God has done and does for me. It doesn't matter that there has been No Greater Love - To my amazement there are many times I still manage to pout and display a lack of gratefulness over something or other ! I realize it is nothing but total depravity going on. That's EXACTLY what it is ! We are so totally depraved...and so to be shocked by my behavior or my childrens would only be pride. I should not be shocked by my sin, I should be ashamed by my sin - having it bring me to my knees.

So, here's the thing. I shouldn't be looking for those words of affirmation in my children or anyone else. Instead, I should always be thinking of the overwhelming and thrilling fact that God has chosen and adopted me as His child and the amazing privilege that is .... thinking on the benefits that I receive from it with having the price for my sin paid in full and the awesome privilege of being able to approach the throne of God in prayer at any time - and then on top of all that always having on the backdrop of my mind the PRECIOUS gifts God's given me in my children, family, and friends and how I don't deserve not one of them ..... Yes, if that was always on the backdrop of my mind along with the fact that I don't deserve to even live another day : NOTHING at all could shake me up so much that I'd get angry about simple circumstances because that information is just TOO GRAND !!!! It's off the scale! Against the back drop of those thoughts everything is so so so soooooooo little.

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you." - Thessalonians 5:18

May I be both diligent to repent and deal with my own sin of ungratefulness.