Last night was a spectacular show of God’s power! Wow! Thunder cracked so loud it sounded like the boom of fireworks going off in the house. Lightning flashed so bright it made my eyes hurt. I don’t know if there were several storms all packed tight together or if the one was spinning over us, but just when it seemed to be far away, it would again be right over top of us. The one drawback… it started right at bedtime. Needless to say, no one got to sleep very early last night.
Just to top it all off with gravy… I had a really bad case of RLS (restless leg syndrome) that my medication couldn’t seem to touch. Just when I started to doze off about 2:30 Merry needed to use the bathroom (she can’t reach the light). Started to doze off again and the thunder was back… Grrrr. Matt sat up with the kids for a bit and watched the “movie” out their bedroom window (Thanks Sweetie!) I found out this morning that Braeden never even woke up! SUCH a heavy sleeper!
Anyway.. my point in all this, yeah. I was fuming last night (ummm… fuming would be a mild way of putting it) and then I felt that nudge. You know the one I mean. That one deep inside that God gives you when He is trying to tell you something but you are being to inwardly noisy to hear that still small voice. What did He say?
“It could be worse.”
That was my mantra growing up. I had Rhuematiod Arthritis and yet everyone called me Smiley.
Wanna know what I was grateful for last night?
I don”t work so I can sleep in or take a nap.
I get to hear (yet again!) how awesome my husband is with the kids!
My kids are old enough that no babies are demanding my attention.
We live in the first floor of a huge apartment building so we are safe from getting hit by lightning.
I have legs to be jumpy.
Tomorrow night they probably will be fine!
I don’t have Arthritis anymore.
and the list goes on and on.
I have found that no matter how bad my situation is, I ALWAYS can find something to be grateful for, it could always be worse! I think that is what is meant, “In all things give thanks…” Not FOR all things, but in all things. It changes your perspective and you realize that what is huge to you at that moment is really quite small in the grand scheme of things.
Look through your Bible… you will quickly see that God loves and blesses a thankful heart. That’s where peace is found. And a grateful heart praises God… that’s where joy bubbles out.
Lightning Photo from photographyblogger.net
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Those thunder and lighting storms can be scary when they are real close. When I lived on the farm{pond road] I would sit on the floor with my back to the wall and hold Sammy.oh yeah, and the German Shepard.[ The house was on a big rock, and we got some close strikes.]
On your restless legs,- that was one of the first things that straightened out when I started taking synthroid.. you can have a normal test result and still have a problem.It could be parathyroid or what I call thyroid starvation. There is a name for it now that means about the same thing. {don’t know what it is] Since EVERYONE else in the family has thyroid problems, it’s a good bet that you do as well.
You might be surprised at the number of people who, during the heat of Marc’s health issues, told us that we helped them feel better about their trials because they weren’t as bad as ours – and yet, it was, at times, a comfort to us. To think that we are helping folks just by being in the midst of what we are. When we are so encompassed in our trials that we can’t provide them with concrete help, we can give them hope.
AND you can ALWAYS count your blessings. ALWAYS.
I agree, to be thankful in all things – not necessarily for them, but in every situation, because God cares for us! Thanks for sharing! And, by the way – I can relate – sleepless nights happen for all sorts of reasons and they are never fun!