God Glimpses – Day 31 – Woohoo! . . . and it happened on the first day of Spring. One month ago I determined to beat this lifelong habit of complaining negativity. Sarcasm is fun, but I’d taken it too far. Oh, sure, a quick wit can be quite entertaining, but biting sarcasm has another name–bitterness. I’d crossed the line.
I could give you my line of excuses, but that would defeat the purpose, wouldn’t it? The purpose was to stop having excuses. I have way too much to be grateful for to let this continue.
I’ve heard it said that a habit can be beaten in twenty-one days, or a month–depends on where you read it–the point is, if you can do something for X number of days in a row, you’ll form a new habit.
That’s where God Glimpses was born. In the land of discontent. I was sick of living there. Inside I was happy. Inside I was grateful. I believed that. There was only one problem. The verse that kept popping into my mind, “Out of the heart the mouth speaks.” Ouch! You know how it is when you’re trying to break a bad habit; you see it everywhere . . . and it’s ugly. I was getting tired of seeing myself as ugly.
I want the best that God has for me, and I really want to be the kind of person who shows other people the best that God sees in them. Complaining and negativity have no place in that life. It’s not who I want to be.
The God Glimpses are working. Instead of seeing the negative, I’m actively seeking the gifts of God’s awesome provision. It’s become a habit–and more than a habit, a glorious addiction.
It snowed most of the day today, on this early first day of Spring, right down on the crocuses and daffodils. I shivered most of the day, wearing a turtleneck, my thickest hoodie and a bulky work shirt, two pair of socks and fleece-lined slippers. I guess it was the missing corduroys, apparently jeans aren’t warm enough for the first day of Spring.
Did I complain? Yep, you bet. I’m not cured.
But I am more submitted. More willing to embrace those things I don’t enjoy, to look for good in every situation.
So I dug up this watercolor I painted for a snowman series of greeting cards. Inside this one I inscribed the verse,
“Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 KJV
My name is Joy. I’m going to die trying to live up to that name. What most people don’t realize is that to understand joy, you have to experience the opposite. I’ve been through a lot, and I’m still recovering, as I’m sure you are too. Won’t you join me in looking for those glimpses of the goodness of our God who never changes and gives Light and Joy?