If you’ve never read any of my posts before, then you’re probably not aware of the rabid rat. Yes, a rabid rat… with big, red eyes… and sharp, pointed teeth… If I ever get a clear look at him, I know that’s what he’ll look like. He started out in our storage shed, then he showed great knowledge of our gutters and roofline, and we’ve recently discovered that he moved… into our van. Yes, our family van.
Naturally, I first started with poison. This was before he had made his home in our van. I thought the situation was taken care of. Case closed, problem solved, and nothing more to worry about. Then I opened the glovebox one day. We were driving home from visiting family (a little over a 3 hour drive), and I was looking for napkins. We always have napkins in our upper glove box – so much so that it’s difficult to close it at times. I discovered that there were no napkins. I checked the lower glovebox and the napkins had been made into a nest.
I’m not sure how common this problem is – in Alaska, it was squirrels that were the problem (we heard about it, but never experienced it ourselves). Granted, the van doesn’t get driven every day, and we even went a couple weeks with it simply parked in our driveway. I’m a stay-at-home, work-from-home, homeschooling wife and mother. With all of that on my plate, if I don’t need to go anywhere, I don’t go anywhere. Well, now I needed something stronger than poison pellets – enter traps and sticky pads.
We’re almost a week in and the rabid rat has enjoyed some nice meals of peanut butter and string cheese. He’s been able to also get his legs waxed (sticky pad) and has even gotten a nice neck massage (traps). I’m not sure that he’ll ever want to leave now. Needless to say, my frustrations have risen in regard to the rabid rat-infested van.
It’s been easy to come up with excuses to not go anywhere. The last thing I want to do is get in the van for a grocery run. With the disappointments every morning (for the past 5 days) of not having caught or killed our rabid rat, I’ve been reminded about gratitude. It’s a lesson that was a bit difficult for me to learn several years ago, so these gentle reminders are a bit easier to contend with.
With not wanting to go anywhere in the van, I’m thankful for a stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer. I’m thankful for internet searches turning up recipes to try with the ingredients I have on hand. I’m thankful for homeschooling and no longer having to work outside the home – that means I don’t have to go anywhere! I’m thankful for a healthy family that doesn’t require numerous appointments with doctors. I’m thankful, I’m thankful, I’m thankful!
I don’t always display an attitude of gratitude, and it’s pretty easy to pinpoint the times that I struggle with it. I typically get into a funk of focusing on all the have nots in my life. I’ve also noticed that when I’m a bit more proficient in being grateful that I tend to be more generous. I’m more generous with my time, talents, and possessions.
Focusing on being grateful is something that I’ve written about before in From Survive to Thrive. At that time, I stated that I want my kiddos to have two things deeply rooted in them as they grow and mature: I want them to always know that God is good, and I want them to have an attitude of gratitude.
I want them to be confident in who their Father is – He’s not going to give anyone a sickness, disease, or disability… He’s not going to do anything evil because He. Is. Good. Jesus was an exact representation of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3, John 5:19) and Jesus never struck anyone with those, but instead healed, raised the dead, and provided for all who had trusted Him to do so. While God does not change (never has and never will), Jesus ushered in a new covenant of peace between God and mankind in which he deals with us in everlasting kindness and compassion (Isaiah 54:8-10). God. Is. Good.
When they understand that God is good and it’s not just a head knowledge, but also a heart knowledge, the attitude of gratitude will follow – sometimes almost effortlessly. There are many studies out there showing that people who count their blessings are far happier and experience less depression than those who express (even if only to themselves) less gratitude. Gratitude seems to unshackle us from toxic emotions and has a lasting effect on our brain and our outlook on life.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
Overflowing with thankfulness… when I have my moments of toxic emotions, it’s always the times that I am unsatisfied with something (or a great many somethings). My recent post Quiet, Sporadic, & Ugly, is a prime example of a few moments of being ungrateful. Sure, I was having a pity party and felt justified in it, but what did it do? I caved to the lies of the devil – I became unsatisfied with my post-partum hair and body to the point that was unhealthy (we should always strive to improve). I started looking at my home and being a mother as a job I disliked that I could never get a break from. Toxic emotions that did nothing but empty me.
It was no wonder that I started to question… everything. I questioned my calling with this blog – what difference does it really make? I questioned my husband’s love and affection, my effectiveness as a mother, and my worth as a child of God. As I recognized what was happening in my head, I knew a pity party wouldn’t do me any good. It would simply drag me further down, bring about more lies to cast away, and leave me even more empty and toxic than before. I want none of that for my children.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9 NIV
Rejoice, don’t be anxious, pray, give thanks, and focus on the good. That sounds good to me. This is the year of getting into the Word – at least for me, and I hope that you will, too. Read the Word, write the Word, and memorize the Word. I’m working on Psalm 91 for memorizing right now and I welcome anyone and everyone to join me. Just read it once a day if you’re not interested in memorizing (ugh – sounds so much like work and is a bit daunting for a whole chapter).
While I work at poisoning the rabid rat (red eyes and pointed teeth, remember?), I’m also going to poison the toxic lies that the devil likes to whisper in my ear. Poison the devil by giving thanks to God – I can’t think of a better, more effective way.