After the season of holidays, the season that drags many families into debt and over-indulging, January comes along… Toys that the kids swore they loved and wanted and would take care of are landing behind the toy box at the back of the closet; Legos get stepped on and illicit screams of agony and parents muster the strength to bite back PG (or worse, but not in our home) obscenities. The bank statements come in the mail or are checked online and many blink in disbelief at the number on the bottom line. Credit card balances soar, leftovers start smelling up the fridge, and it’s a time of mixed emotions.
While the new year brings a renewed sense of hope, possibilities, and excitement, there are also moments where we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, burdened, and even a bit listless. With determination, gym memberships are created – long lines are formed for the rows of treadmills or ellipticals, we buckle down and make our coffee at home, and we meal prep or pack a lunch instead of eating out. Budgeting systems are created or reinforced, and self-help books are sought out depending on the results that are desired. With all this going on, our focus in so many different directions, sleep becomes an elusive friend.
We love movies in our household. We love watching movies, quoting movies, and some movies can offer insights that hadn’t been considered before. Movies are not the Bible. Do not turn to the Woods (Holly- or Bolly-) for anything to do with the eternal – did you seriously waste your money on the movie “Noah” with Russell Crow? The movies I’m referring to are the ones like “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Star” (animated – talking donkeys are Biblical – Numbers 22:21-34), and “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby. Now that’s a movie with class! And the song “Count Your Blessings” (written by Irving Berlin) shifted my perspective.
Since moving to Alaska almost 10 years ago, I’ve started to see how there are so many opportunities to recognize God’s goodness and His constant provision. We have crazy-busy summers trying to soak up as much sun as we can while stockpiling as much fish as possible. And then we process it all (can, smoke, dry, freeze, etc.). We garden and process; berry pick… and process. We have road construction that’s always there, tourism coupled with construction makes our daily commutes… fun. We upgrade, maintain, or repair our homes and more. Then we have winter. We’ve just gone through a stretch of negative temperatures (no one enjoys -17°, unless you’re one of the lucky few to experience -55°).
Our kitchen sits above our garage and, without in-floor heat, we get “cold spots” on the floor. We have really big windows in our living room with energy-saving drapes hung, but the smallest crack in the drapes sends a noticeable chill for anyone nearby. In the last house we lived in, we had a wood stove that blasted heat, making it feel like summer during the dead of winter, but we don’t have one for this house. All of these things, I’m sad to report, we’ve complained about (myself included). Yet, I’m able to eat, sleep, and abide in a home that is set to 70°. We have a clean (for the most part – depends on the day) and paid-for home, happy and healthy children, vehicles that were bought with cash and are reliable, well-behaved pets (they don’t mind the cold spots or drafts so long as they’re not outside), our fridge, freezer, and pantry are fully stocked, jobs lined up (self-employed family), I get to be a stay-at-home mom, and I have the privilege (and charge) of telling anyone who will listen about the One who provided it all.
All too often we see the glass half-empty, but what about seeing the glass? Once we see the glass, acknowledge the One who gave us the glass, we can receive – we can hold the glass out for it to be filled. Why do we tend to see the negative, the voids, and the have-nots so easily instead of the positive, the fullness, and the haves? We seem to see, more easily, the obstacles and not see the miracles. Just a thought, but how many of the obstacles were of our own making? We (I include myself in this) buy even though we have plenty, waste because it’s easier to replace than repair (in the short-run), and complain because we’ve had a sense of entitlement fostered.
It’s near impossible to maintain an attitude of gratitude when we’re consistently drifting in and out of the mindset of “I deserve…” What do we deserve? It’s really not that we deserve “something” or “nothing” but that we all deserve hell. This is why I’m always going on about God’s goodness! Because of everything Jesus went through, we now have everything He has to offer poured directly into our glass! “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:22-24 (NIV) Couple that passage with this one: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) We’ve been justified by grace through faith – nothing we can do could ever earn or buy right-standing with God.
I’m really liking the glass illustration right now. Let’s continue reading Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God created us to do.” Or another favorite of mine: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 (NIV) God gave us the glass, but don’t you see? We are the glass! And He poured out His love into us by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:1-5). With all that He has done for us, provision, protection, and most of all, salvation… the psalmist had it perfect:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23 (NIV)
God created me; formed me and loves me. He made me a glass so that He could pour His love into me. By pouring into me, I can’t help but overflow. As soon as I think I have a handle on how much my glass can hold, I find that I can’t possibly hold the amount of love God has for me. Instead of a trickling stream, it’s a tidal wave so strong that it hung Jesus on the cross.
Are you allowing God to fill you, your glass, with His love? Or are you trying to fill your glass with all the other stuff? If you’re having trouble getting there, I challenge you: count your blessings. For every thought you have for something you think you’re lacking, note at least two things that are blessings – something you’re thankful for. When you count your blessings, have an attitude of gratitude, you’ll find that your glass remains full to overflowing – you’ll experience all of God’s goodness.