Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful! Yes winter has hit the midwest....or at least it's finally hit us. What is your first thought when snow falls? Yay! or ugh.
Looking out the window, I am reminded of another lesson my mother taught me growing up. "If you get up on the wrong side of the bed, go back and don't get up until you get up on the right side" in response to our grumpiness in the morning. What does this have to do with snow? Everything. While some people think it a nuisance, or frustrating, I think it an opportunity to drink hot cocoa without getting too hot inside; new sports to begin like sledding and ice skating and don't forget snowball fighting; watching old movies; doing crafts and baking with my daughter. ...I forgot snow makes ice cream!!!!
All too many times I've heard people complain about the weather (past years, myself included), but in fact, some of those people would complain about anything. Maybe they need to go to bed until they can get up happy.
No, that's not a cure all, but the principle that we have something to do with our happiness is. It's a choice, not happenstance. Some days I feel as if the trash bag is attacking me, my carpet is schemeing with my shoes to cause me an injury, and the laundry has an evil plot to make me work harder, because as soon as I throw it in the washer the pile behind me doubles! On those days, I remember to take a deep breath or two, and think about all the things I'm thankful for rather then what irrates me at the moment. My list would start with, my husband who provides for me, my daughter whom I stay home to care for, our home, our food, our extended family support, guidance from our parents, our safety, peace of mind, Jesus, whom I have great faith that He has everything under control....
We all make choices everyday and one of them needs to be how we feel. We can pick out things we enjoy in our situations, whether it be safety, the people we are with, new perspectives on foods, the guilt-free feelings of not having to take care of the yard if it's snowing.... or make ourselves miserable and others around us. In every situation there is something that we can be thankful for, and all too often we lose sight of the good things and let ourselves become overwhelmed by what we think is making us unhappy. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry Heart does good like a medicine, but a weary spirit dries the bones." You and I know that if our husband comes in after a recreational buying trip and says, "you spent what?!" our spirits are deflated, we get defensive and we look at our purchases with disgust. However, if our husband comes in and says, "Hey! what bargains did you find today?" Our spirits sore, and we enjoy the rewards of our hunt. How much more so do we need to control our emotions like grumpiness, irritation, and unhappiness, since God has called us to be the heart of the home. Mothers and Wives are the center of the home, we make our homes prosper or fail. Proverbs 14:1 says, "Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands."
It is so important for us to learn this lesson, that if we wake up frusterated, we will break down the unity and peacefulness we are supposed to be creating. It is up to us, to get up in the morning and start praising the Lord that He has a job for us to do and we have another day to do it. Let's get up ladies, start a thankful list right away and replace each negative thought with a positive one. Then watch and see how your mood starts to change. You will learn to have a new outlook on life, and be able to enjoy the rain even if it's gloomy, the sunshine when the temperatures sore, the wind (in Nebraska) even when it's whipping your hair, and the snow when it seems you are stuck.

Choosing to gain a new perspective will revolutionize your life, and make your home a more soothing and hospitable place to be, not only for the inhabitants, but for your guests as well.

One last lesson, it's very improtant to instill any lessons you learn in your children as they grow. Life will be less difficult if they have already learned many of life's lessons when they were young.

Character Lessons

Have your parents ever said, "You'll thank me when you're older?"
Much to my irratation I heard that repeatedly when I was growing up. When I wasn't allowed to have activities to keep me occupied, 24/7; when I had to (what I thought to be child-labor, then)feed the animals, wash the dishes, weed the garden. I also thought that they must enjoy depriving me of free money when they said the all too popular..."Money doesn't grow on trees, so you will have to earn it".
Now that I am grown, and have my own family, I do thank my parents. With what I thought to be cruel and unloving, was in actuality the best thing a parent could do for a child. What they were doing when they were saying "You'll thank me when you're older" was instilling character-building qualities, like hard work ethics; appreciation for family, and for the hard-earned dollar; satisfaction in a job done correctly; and respect for others.
As I learned these lessons growing up, I was thankful more and more for my parents and their controlled hands that did not give into my every plea, but made me work for what I wanted.
I am so thankful for my parents who loved me so much to show me how to take care of myself and to be content with what I had. "You'll thank me when you're older" was much more loving than "What else can I give you, honey?".
May I look to the future and have the strength to tell my children "You'll thank me when you're older" as my parents said to me.