Real Life w/Roz
  • Home
    • Contact
  • About
  • Grace & Goals
  • 2021 Blog Posts
  • Historical Blog Posts
    • Real Life >
      • day to day life
      • Daily Life >
        • in pictures
    • Real Faith >
      • Faith Life
    • Real Food
    • 28-Day Mind Reset

Devotional: My Bad Attitude

1/27/2012

9 Comments

 
When the Holy Spirit prompted me to write this devotional today, I had one of those cringing moments. My calling is to share my life through stories and look for God in the every day. I try to keep myself (and my own sins!) out of it for the most part (sorry Trey!). 

But today, when this verse popped out at me, I knew it was time to air my dirty laundry, er, I mean, dishes. 

You see, I hate doing dishes. I mean, I REALLY hate it. When I was single, I would leave the dishes for... well, you don't need that much information. Just suffice it to say that my idea of satisfying work runs more along the lines of working out in the yard than in the house. 

Unfortunately for me, my husband's primary respect-language, is a neat, orderly home. 

Sigh. 

You see where this is going, don't you? 

Lately, God's been putting it on my heart (thanks so my husband's loving honesty) that I should have the kitchen neat and cleaned up when my husband comes home to work. 

Can I just say, I'm not some Suzie-homemaker, whipped, bare-feet-in-the-kitchen kind of wife. God created me a powerful, strong, brave, outspoken, truth-speaking woman. So don't go down that road that I'm turning into a doormat. Just sayin'.

I'll confess, since it's just you, one reader, that I have a bad attitude about cleaning. A really bad attitude. In my mind, I need a wife of my own. 

But lately, as Tom's homecoming creeps closer, I get this compulsion to get that kitchen clean. And it ticks me off, because I hate doing it.

So I've been saying a lot of 'Lord, please forgive my bad attitude, Please help me to put Tom's respect-language need before my own desire to _____ (fill in the blank).'

The other day, I was doing the dishes, saying my prayer, and the following verse popped into my head:
Whatsoever ye do, labour at it heartily, as [doing it] to the Lord, and not to men...Colossians 3:23

And it keeps coming back, those words echoing in my mind each time I begin to feel the grumblings coming on... 


And I'm fine now!  I can do those dishes with a cheerful heart and a respectful attitude. 

Um...

Okay, I'm working on it. 

What I AM fine about is the truth Jesus is teaching me: that each task I undertake, if I can keep my focus on my purpose, my goal of becoming like Jesus, I can look forward to a reward. 

See, the second part of the verse goes like this:
"...since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."  Colossians 3:24 

What's this inheritance he's talking about? I'm no bible scholar (if you are, and have good input on this, heck, chime in!), but my heart tells me that this inheritance is the gift of being like Jesus. 

Is there a task in your life that has you gritting your teeth? Today, be encouraged - over time, disciplining yourself to keep your relationship with Jesus at the forefront, any task becomes a catalyst that God can use to help change your attitude, your mindset, your focus - your life. 

To help you become more like Jesus.

And isn't THAT ultimate goal, our purpose?


9 Comments
Holly Eisaman
1/27/2012 03:40:19 am

I have to laugh- I think your devotional was supposed to be seen by me. I think God was trying to show me its my attitude toward housework needs to be changed. I hate dishes and my hubby's words were"maybe you can tackle the kitchen today". On his to do list was the bathroom which I told him I could complete. When you clean the bathroom - you have a clean room for days. Kitchen seems to be the endless pit of dirty dishes and clutter.
Just maybe with that verse in my head - I can complete my wifely household chores after school. I have a two hour window before hubby comes home after I drop dude off at mimi's for the night. Thanks for the inspiration. Since I feel "God " sent me a message to get off fb and change my attitude. Thank you. I am disconnecting from fb until my tasks are done.

Reply
Rosalyn
1/27/2012 07:31:14 am

Holly,
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so blessed that God used me to speak to your life. The wonderful thing about this process is that we are forgiven - and we can start new! I'll be praying for you - and yes, I agree, kitchens feel like an endless task.
I cleaned up the kitchen today, just in time to make dinner - and guess what I have to go do AGAIN?! LOL Jesus help me!
Blessings,
Rosalyn

Reply
Emily
1/30/2012 11:20:03 pm

So many memories for me....resentment comes to mind. I used to think my husband had it lucky when he could go off to work and I was left in the kitchen with the kids and the mess. When I realized the stem of my discontent, I realized I was allowing a foothold into my life robbing me of the joy and peace that God intended for me. Resentment also clouded my ablity to see all the blessings He was giving me each day. It's all relative because I had very wealthy friends that could afford help and all the "toys, etc, (yet they still were unhappy and complained)", while others thought I was weathly, but I was comparing.myself to my rich friends. Instead of realizing I had the privilage to be at home, when many women had to work at a job and then come home to the laundry and dishes and.... oh, that must be so hard...my heart goes out to them! Anyway, I began to see that my husband's job required him to repeat the same tasks every day, driving an hour each way in bumper to bumper traffic, dealing with the politics of the work place, etc., YET, he did it everyday without complaining. He did it to put food on the table for me and my family, to pay the mortgage for the roof over my head and to pay for some of my hobbies that brought me pleasure. But the clincher for me from the Lord was....okay, whatever, you can go to work and get a job and pick up your kids and then do food shopping and then go home and make dinner and do dishes , etc. Me?? Work?? Well, did my husband have a choice?? When the Lord challenged me with those thoughts, I thot, "Please no, I don;'t want anyone else raising my children, I enjoy a little time to stop and have lunch with a friend or sister or my mother...when would I see them"? So from an older women who had a similar experience, I realised my focus was not on appreciating what I had but on what I didn't have and that robbed me of joy, peace and contentment which I believe is a strong part of the reward we recieve from our inheritance, along with eternal life, a relationship with God, who I can talk with anytime, and who gives me wisdom and conviction that guides me to make the right choices....., which inheriently gives me joy, peace and contentment. Isn't that what Jesus often says, "I come to bring you peace that you may have joy and rest in your spirit". He said,, "You will have tribulations but be of good "cheer" for I have over come the world." I also learned that Happiness does not come from without,, it comes from within. God did not put us on this earth to be happy, as our egos are convienced,....., but on the path of obedience we find happiness, and ultimately, peace and joy. Somehow, we believe the lie that we are put on this earth for our happiness. However, we are here to serve God by serving others. I think there is no greater prison then to just live for our own happiness, to just worry about myself and how happy I am. I have experienced that serving others and giving to others has no greater joy.

Two thoughts:

Comparison: When I compare myself to others, it is the kiss of death to be able to recieve and enjoy the blessings God gives me, and robs me of the ablity to totaly embace myself and the way He created me. My uniqueness....A beautiful flower in a feild of many.

Expectations: can be the kiss of death in relationships. We often want someone to fill the huge hole from out past, when they are only able to give us a normal fulfillment. But we resent them because they don't fill that hole, and help us feel whole..........something only God can do with His healing hand.

Reply
Heather
2/1/2012 03:00:31 am

Wow....that was definitely directed at me ;) Even the conversation afterwards ;) I also hate the dishes and the laundry! Uggh....there's only three of us and wow....where does it all come from. I also have had bad attitude thoughts of my husband and others, Yeah, he gets to go to work and just leave it all for me :( (though he does help quite a bit) Right before reading this, my devotion was entitle 7 Ways to Practice Peace. It's amazing when I accomplish my tasks of the day, how much better attitude is and how peaceful I truly am. I am so thankful for my husband allowing me to stay home and providing all we need. I'm thankful for my son and him being here today and healthy (well most of the time). But overall I'm thankful when I get distracted by nasty things or thoughts of the world, how our amazing God can direct carefully back to Him. Praise you God for how you work ;) Thanks for sharing Rosalyn!

Reply
Rosalyn link
2/1/2012 03:18:35 am

Heather and Emily,

You ladies are fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and thoughts. You are a blessing to me and to the others who will read your gifts...

Thank you,
Blessings,
Rosalyn

Reply
Andrea
11/15/2012 12:51:36 pm

Wow! So I've had the worst attitude at work lately! I'm completely miserable! My managers upset me on a daily basis and I constantly feel like I'm getting the short end of the stick. It hit though, yesterday, that you know what...I'm not working for them! I'm working for Christ. No matter how "unfair" things may be in that office there is no excuse for my sour face. I feel so ashamed and I know I've let the Lord down so terribly. God is so gracious to me, yet I still grumble! May God forgive my soul and give me strength to become a better version of myself through Him. Thank you for this article! It was the first thing that came up for "God help me with my bad attitude." It was exactly what I needed to read. God is so just and pours out so much grace to his beloved. So blessed!!!

Reply
Rosalyn
11/16/2012 01:37:08 am

Andrea,
Welcome, and so glad you found us! Very grateful that this devotional touched your heart. Praying for you, that you find peace in a difficult job, and that God will use you to minister to your manager. Unhappy people are unhappy managers, and it's usually a top-down issue.
Blessings to you, and please, come again!

Reply
Bucketlist Becky link
12/6/2020 06:14:29 pm

Thannks for the post

Reply
Rosalyn Price English
12/6/2020 06:44:08 pm

Hi Becky! Glad you found us!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    2 Kings 7:1
    Attitude
    Baby
    Bible Verses
    Catalyst
    Christmas
    Conviction
    Daily Life
    Devotional
    Discipline
    Discontent
    Encouragement
    Everyday Life
    Fear
    Finances
    Finding God
    Forgiveness
    Freedom
    Future
    Gift
    God
    God's Plans
    Grace
    Grief
    Growth
    Guilt
    Help
    Holiday
    Holidays
    Hope
    Humility
    Hurt
    Important
    Inheritance
    Jesus
    Jesus' Birth
    Jesus' Ministry
    Joy
    Joy To The World
    Laughter
    Laundry
    Life
    Little Moments
    Love
    Maturity
    Mercy
    Mess
    Midwife
    Money
    Moses
    Mothers
    Obedience
    Obscure
    Pain
    Pride
    Prodigal
    Projects
    Purpose
    Quiet
    Quiet Time
    Release
    Respect
    Respect Language
    Rest
    Romans 8:1-2
    Shopping
    Silence
    Sin
    Sleep
    Stay At Home Mom
    Staying Sane
    Still
    Stress
    Stress Strategy
    Struggle
    Task
    Thank You
    Thomas Merton
    Toddlers
    Tomorrow
    Truth
    Value
    Vocation
    Willfullness
    Willingness
    Work
    Worth
    Writing


    Archives

    August 2015
    August 2013
    May 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011

Search here!
"We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well." 
(1 Corinthians 10:24b MSG)  ​
  • Home
    • Contact
  • About
  • Grace & Goals
  • 2021 Blog Posts
  • Historical Blog Posts
    • Real Life >
      • day to day life
      • Daily Life >
        • in pictures
    • Real Faith >
      • Faith Life
    • Real Food
    • 28-Day Mind Reset