I Feel Grumpy Today
I feel grumpy today. It is hot. I am tired. Probably not at all conducive to sitting down and composing a Coop's Corner column. But it is due on Sunday and I won't have time tomorrow … so today is it.
I don't like being grumpy. And I especially don't like it when other people tell me I am being grumpy. I don't even like the word "grumpy." Makes me sound like an old man. And I am not an old man, regardless of what my birth certificate might suggest.
So what am I to do? My first inclination is to erase everything I have written and start over. Actually, I have already done that once. But I keep coming back to being grumpy… so I guess God wants me to work through this. And lucky you get to be the beneficiary of my reflections.
The truth is, grumpiness is usually a choice, probably a choice too many of us make too easily without even realizing it. Grumpiness either attacks us before we even get out of bed or often kind of creeps up on us during the day. For me, it started before I got out of bed. I woke up well before the alarm went off (don't you just hate that!) and then got a slow start and arrived to work late. And it seemed to go downhill from there.
But you know, I think I could have stopped it in its tracks at the very beginning. When I start to get grumpy, it helps when I think about all the things I have to be thankful for. It also is very helpful when I then remember to pray and ask God to bless my day - not necessarily that everything will go perfectly, but that I will be able to deal with whatever comes up - in a positive way. God is faithful. Did I thank God and ask him for his help this morning? Oops!
It is kind of like when you feel a cold coming on, you take extra vitamin C, or Echinacea, or zinc lozenges. When you feel grumpiness coming on you need to remember your blessings - and name them, maybe even out loud, and then don't forget to ask God for support and encouragement.
Now we all know that when you feel a cold coming on we don't always take the time to do the vitamin thing … and when we start to feel grumpy we won't always stop and count our blessings. But the Good News is that, unlike a cold, it is never too late to start combating our grumpiness. And you know what, if all else fails, do a good deed. Find something nice to do for someone else, maybe without even being asked. That will usually works every time!
Look at what non-grumpy people are like. They have smiles on their faces, they are often eager to help others, they enjoy life. That can be you, and that can be me. It is a choice we get to make. And the best part is we have a God who wants exactly that for us and is willing to walk us through our grumpiness to the other side - the lighter side of life.
Now see, I feel better all ready. I am very blessed and have a great deal to be thankful for. God is with me, loving me, supporting me, and encouraging me. Whatever caused me to be grumpy - and I won't bore you with the list - God is greater than all of them … and has a better plan. I am thankful that I am part of that plan.
Thank you for the opportunity to work my way out of my grumpiness. This is a good day!
Be blessed, and I'll see you on Sunday.
Pastor Tom |
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