Grumbling about our blessings

I started this post a couple weeks ago.
I knew I needed to write about it,
but it felt flat.
I couldn't put words to what I was feeling.

Today it came to me!

A couple weeks ago in Sunday School,
my Lanny Love,
who was teaching on the fifth chapter of James,
made the comment:

"We should be counting our blessings

rather than grumbling about them!"

Now, can I be honest here?

I can't remember in what context

he made the observation

as it relates to James.

But I remember the way it affected me -

and that phrase has stuck with me!!!

Now, I'm not a generally grumbly kind of gal.
Mostly I see silver linings and the positive side of things.
But now and again,
just like all of us,
I'm grumpy.

Today is one of those days.

I'd like to share a text conversation
I had with my closest female friend, Chris,
this afternoon.

(Young at Hearts, please forgive me!)

Me: I forgot we have stupid young at heart tonight so no feet. 

(insert grumpy emoji here)

(She is also my reflexologist)

 As you can tell, I am thrilled about going and my attitude is peachy... 

(nose growing emoji)

Chris:  LOL!!! Yeah, I can tell.

And I'm sorry too.

Me: I'm feeling very sorry for myself and very put upon today. 

Because, you know, my life's so bad... 

(that was sarcasm - I have a GREAT life!!!)

Can't seem to shake the grumpies...

Chris: I'm sorry. And it's all relative. 

(My friend is very generous!)

Me: I haven't had a good pity party in a long time! 

I think I'll just decide I'm due one and embrace it. 

Until 6pm when I must transform into sweet Gina.

(Pause as I work up some pitiable problems.......)

Me: You know, it's pretty hard to have a full blown pity party 

when the best I can come up with to feel sorry for myself about 

is that I have to go to a potluck/domino party tonight 

with a bunch of people who love me 

and whom I love 

and I'd rather stay home and pout...

but I'm going to work on it! 

Chris: Oooh, snap! Yeah, not much there I'm afraid...

Me: Zach is coming and bringing 2 more dogs to pee on the floor - 

surely that's justifiable!

(I have spent the last two days cleaning carpet

because of naughty doggies.

I thought about waiting until 

after the granddogs leave,

but one is still a puppy in training

and that would be an invitation

and make it harder for Zach and Jamie

to continue his training!)

Chris: Oh yeah, that'll do it.....

hang on to the shampooer....

(Borrowed shampooer

and I will!)

Me: And I have to cook dinner 

for a whole bunch of nice people Saturday night 

and I can't fall back on easy but noteworthy spaghetti! 

Now we're rollin'........ 

(tongue sticking out, winking emoji)

Chris: Lol!!!!!

Me: And they can't fix the dryer until Friday 

and it's really, really loud and annoying! 

Yeah baby!

(Oh my goodness!!!

SO loud and annoying!!!)

Okay, better now! Thanks!

Chris: Now the blessings.........

Me: (yellow heart emoji)

Soooooooooooo many! 

And, funny thing, 

many are the same as the grumbles!

And it hit me!!!

I am grumbling about my blessings!!!

I get to go to Young at Heart tonight

because I am part of 

a loving, accepting, giving church community!

I get to clean the carpet 

because I have carpet to clean in my lovely home;

because I have a sweet little doggie 

who is having some issues right now;

because I get to see my bonus son and daughter-in-love

and their sweet little babies;

because I have a dear friend who loaned me her cleaner!

I get to entertain Saturday night -

and can I be straight up honest here? -

I LOVE entertaining!

I get to listen to a noisy dryer

because I have a dryer!

And I get to have it repaired

rather than living with the noise

until it dies and I no longer have a dryer!

I'm not sure why I was grumpy this morning.

But I'm sure why I'm grateful that

God has so richly blessed me!

Lord, forgive my grumbling!

Thank You for Your generosity!

My whole being praise the Lord

and do not forget all His kindnesses!

                                                   ~~ Psalm 103:2