Monday’s encouragement

This morning didn’t begin as it normally does on a Monday.

Instead of waking to my husband’s alarm, I awoke to him entering the room carrying a blanket and saying in a less-than-rested voice, “I’m late. Going to take a shower.”

“What happened?”

“I was awake from 1 am to 5 this morning and didn’t hear my alarm.”

He headed to the shower and after a few moments of trying to get myself fully awake, I rolled out of bed and headed for the kitchen to make him some coffee.

It’s been a wonderful weekend.

Saturday was our oldest girl’s birthday and our son-in-law had called me the day previous to ask if we could watch the kids so he could to take her out for part of the day, then they would be back in time for supper, cake and gifts.

I love watching the grandbabies!

We had a great time, but somewhere in the day I started to feel a migraine coming on.

It was disappointing, but I prayed and asked the Lord to keep me from having to go to bed while the family was still here.

Thankfully, not long after this our daughter and son-in-law returned.

I went and took my medication and had a short nap.

I was able to get up and enjoy time with all three of our daughters as our second girl and her husband came over as well.

By bedtime, I was ready to crash.

I overslept the next morning and when I did waken it was with the realization that I wasn’t going to leave the house for church.

My family did and prayed for me.

I felt good enough to be able to eat and read my Bible.

I normally watch online when I can’t go, but yesterday I really enjoyed the time by simply praying.

When everyone came back we ate and I rested, while Hubby and Jase worked on our chicken coop.

Hubby had not worked on Saturday so he could help me with the kids.

They got a bunch done and I didn’t have to cook as we had leftovers from the night before.

I went to bed still hurting, but thankful and happy.

Not the same emotion I felt as I drug myself into the kitchen this morning.

Not only had I failed to clean the kitchen after supper, I was like a porcupine whose quills are working the opposite way, everything seemed to poke me.

The cutting board with crumbs, the sink with dirty dishes, the floor which needed to be swept, the…you get the idea.

I needed to get my mind and heart out of the “crummies” and into the Lord so I started to pray.

“Lord, thank You for my family whose dirty dishes are in my way.”

…hmm, not quite the right attitude…try again.

“Lord, thank You for the food we have leftover, so I don’t have to try to make a lunch for my husband.”

…better…

“Lord, thank You for my husband. I don’t know why he couldn’t sleep, but he is so tired, please bless him today, giving him all he needs to do his job well.”

“Lord, thank You for my children still at home. Please help me to be gracious and not cranky today.”

Unfortunately, I got sidetracked from this positive line when I realized the dishwasher was completely clean, but hadn’t been unloaded from yesterday morning, and someone in an effort to find something in the clean clothes in the dryer dropped a used-to-be clean dish towel on the floor and left it there.

I tossed it in the washing machine and went to deal with the dishwasher.

Hubby returned, thanked me for breakfast and lunch and coffee.

He kissed me, hugged me, and knew I was struggling.

Gently asked me what was wrong.

I whispered the truth and he kissed me again, said “I love you” and left.

After finishing the dishes, I loaded and started the washing machine, turned off breakfast to keep it from burning and headed for my room.

I had neglected my time with the Lord and that was why I was struggling so much.

I barely made it in and my phone dinged with a text.

It was a childhood friend whose now a lovely adult woman with a family.

She’d texted me that she was praying for me, thanked me for my prayers for her, and told me I was awesome.

I texted back: “How’d ya know I needed that this morning? I bet it was Jesus who told you. Thank you, so much for your prayers!”

Then, I read another prayer from a friend I made in our last city.

It was beautiful and encouraging and I felt humbled, blessed, and convicted.

I know how difficult it is for me to come back off a migraine and how much my family does when I am unable to do.

It’s very ungrateful of me to focus on all the things they didn’t do rather than praising God for all they did do.

It’s also unfair to them as they are simply doing what they see as the priority for that day.

I spent some time in prayer, thanking God and confessing I’d messed up my Monday morning, asking Him to redeem it.

He has.

With that knowledge and blessing, I am writing to you.

If your struggling with the “crummies”, an attitude which is anything but loving, thankful, and joyful take a minute and repent for the ingratitude, thank God for His blessing, even if it’s only the breath you are breathing you have something to thank Him for.

Then seek God’s Word and His face, find a chance to worship God, and fill your heart and mind with God’s truth, His love, His mercy and grace.

That’s what restored my morning along with the prayers of a few friends, the gentleness of my husband.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word and how You use us to encourage and lift up one another. Lord Jesus, I thank You for all You have done through others for me this morning. First, with the gentle understanding of my husband and then through the reaching out of my friends in prayer. Lord Jesus, for those who are struggling with crummy attitudes, crummy circumstances, maybe even crummy lives, I just lift them up to You and humbly request that they see You this day, that they turn their hearts to seeking You and find solace for their hurting in Your Word and Your salvation. Lord Jesus, sometimes we simply get off track through selfishness or other tricks of sin, please bring us , each one of us, clarity if we have stepped away from following hard after You. Lord, put our feet back upon the right road and let the weary heart find strength in Your Word and You Holy Spirit. For it is Your joy in which we find strength. Lord, for so many who are living lives of horrible oppression and abuse, I humbly request You meet them right where they are and bring them both hope and freedom through You precious blood. Lord, it is for the lost, the sick, the broken, the blind, the lame, the deaf, the hurting, the orphan, the widow, the prodigal, the sinner, that You came, You died, You rose again. May we never tire of that truth nor weary of waiting for Your return. I love You, Jesus. Amen.