POUTING IS RIDICULOUS

And so am I.

Here's how I know…

Sometimes I find myself stuck in a *place* – stuck as the hostess at a big ol' Pity Party, where plenty of whine is served.

Yeah, it's all-too-easy for me to get stuck in a negative place.

I might have explanations for it, but these rarely make good excuses. 

So, here I was last week, fighting a cold, doing the taxes, thinking on life, and feeling sorry for myself.  (By the way, I have found that if you look for the clouds, the silver lining rarely appears – just sayin')

"The Hub" and I decided one day to head down the hill to do some *city things* we needed to do – the banking, the pharmacy, the car insurance, etc.  And, on this trip, we added this to our list – a visit to the BIG supermarket chain.

There is a wonderful little grocery store here in town, and we usually do our shopping up here.  It's convenient, and we like to support the local community.  But, once in awhile, we like to do a "big shopping", stocking up on non-refrigerated items, and it's good to get the savings down the hill.

On this day, we were also on a mission for church. 

You see, we have a local Help Center, a sort of thrift shop in town.  But it's also a place where the less-than-fortunate can get much-needed necessities – like food.  And once a year our church has a food drive to help them re-stock the shelves.

So, this is the setting in which I found myself – a big supermarket down the hill – the setting in which I found out how silly it is to pout.

As "The Hub" and I filled up the cart, I was pondering.  But when we started filling up the cart with food items that were obviously meant for children's lunch boxes, I started tearing up.  All I could picture was the faces of those kids.  How grateful they would be to have a juice box, or a peach cup, or a fruit roll-up.

It brought back so many memories of packing sack lunches for my boys.  The thoughts and feelings that I had when I did it – the love I had for them, the warm sense of being able to care for them, and provide nourishment for their day.

That's when it came to me – in some small way, we were giving other parents the ability to provide for their children.  Something they just might not be able to do on their own.

I'm not kidding, it brought me to near sobs right there in the aisle.

"The Hub" caught my eye – wondering and worrying about why I was on the verge of a melt-down.

All I could get out was something to the effect of how very foolish I had been lately.  How self-absorbed.  How short-sighted.

How my pouting had been so ridiculous.

I had been whining about superfluous things, when people were worried about enough food to eat.

I prayed right there in the aisle, asking the Lord to forgive me for being so shallow.  For losing sight of what's important.  For forgetting to thank Him for all the blessings that He bestows on my family…and me.

And I thanked Him for the privilege of being His hands and feet to those who are needy.

Though it's greatly uncomfortable when the Holy Spirit brings me to a moment of conviction, I am grateful that He does.

Because sometimes I really, really need it.  I need that moment of pause.  I need to be reminded of how *alive and well* that sinful nature is inside of me.

I need to be shown, once again, that all I have is His.  It all belongs to Him, and I am only the blessed receiver of gifts given to me by The Gracious Giver.  And, because of that, I also have the solemn responsibility to share His gifts with others…

I am blessed to be a blessing.

You are, too.

Pass it on…

Make us, we beseech thee, faithful stewards of thy great bounty. 

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." (Matthew 10:42, NLT)

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done." (Proverbs 19:17, NIV)

"And the angel replied, 'Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!'" (Acts 10:4, NLT)

"You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35, NLT)

"When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." (Luke 12:48, NLT)

"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap." (Luke 6:38, NLT)

"Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too...Do everything without complaining and arguing...shining like bright lights..." (Philippians 2:4, 14-15, NLT)

What can you do today to bless someone else?

(SIDENOTE:  Might I just add that this post had absolutely nothing to do with any commentary about our generosity - but it is all about my attitude, and my conviction that God calls me to something bigger and better than complaining.  Besides, pouting causes wrinkles!!)

Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Laura at PLAYDATES WITH GOD
Jen at SOLI DEO GLORIA
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Jen at UNITE
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Rosilind at A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS
Judith at WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY
Kasey at WALKING REDEEMED
Beth at THREE WORD WEDNESDAY
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Lyli at THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY
Crystal at THRIVING THURSDAY
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Bonnie at FAITH BARISTA JAM
Sandy at STILL SATURDAY
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS
Julie at FELLOWSHIP FRIDAYS

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"