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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Conscious Gratitude

I laid in bed early yesterday morning, their faint giggles pouring into my room- stirring the attitude that would follow me the rest of the day.  Caleb got up REALLY early yesterday when he heard Avery’s footsteps going down the stairs at the time that she would normally wake for school.  He fed her breakfast and then fell sound asleep on the couch.  Clearly she was not amused with Nick Jr.’s morning offerings and she snuck back upstairs to wake her more interesting brother and sister.

This is the point where, under normal circumstances, my attitude would begin with grumbling and escalate to all out frustration that would follow me and direct my actions throughout the day.  But this day was different.  I snuggled deeper under my comforting flannel sheets, content with the pillow that cradled my head and the fabulous mattress that Caleb and I scored for a deal when we first wed.  I asked the Lord to stir that heart of gratitude that I was committing to consciously express this month.  Using gratitude as a filter- perceiving circumstances, asking God to show me the blessings in those circumstances, turning that perception into gratitude in my heart and then expressing gratitude in my actions and words. 

She woke them with kisses and asked them if they wanted “Avery to read them a story while they wait for mama to wake up.”  I love when she uses her encouraging teacher voice and talks in third person… I take it in.  Thank you, Lord, for producing an encouraging and teaching spirit in my oldest daughter.  Thank you for creating joy in her to love her brother and sister.  She is admirable, and they do admire her.  Plus she is funny- and they love to laugh.  Thank you, Lord. 

She grabs Richard Scarry’s Best Story Book Ever.  They are some of our favorite stories.  And they were Caleb’s favorites when he was a young boy.  Conscious gratitude, Oma kept those books!  Thank you, Lord that those favorites of my husband are now favorites of my children.  I just lay there in my fabulous bed and soak it all in, her reading skills coming to life.Nov 10 005

f-ee-d Feed b big h-il-duh Hilda h-ip-po Hippo her A-B-C’s.”  Conscious gratitude.  She’s reading, she is in a wonderful school and God put her there- she wasn’t supposed to go there, and we weren’t supposed to be able to send her.  I utter gratitude to the Lord for the detail and care that He put into choosing this school for Avery and McClaine, the wisdom that they are gleaning there, the love for the Lord that is being fostered there, the love for learning.  She continues, “now Audrey, this is the letter ‘A,’ can you point to the letter ‘A’?  That’s right!  Now McClaine, would you feed her an automobile or an apple?  Which would you feed her?”

The volume of their banter increases as they proceed through the alphabet, “Audrey!  You would feed Hilda a jeep?  Nooooo!  You would feed her jam.”  Their giggles are in perfect harmony, and yet they don’t wake their slumbering baby sister in the room right beside them.  Conscious gratitude.  Children that love to laugh together,  a tot that slumbers through the merriment of her siblings.  I smell coffee brewing downstairs, egg in a basket sizzling in a skillet.  Conscious gratitude.  Food to eat, husband cooking, children laughing, tot stirring, quiet singing from her room. 

My feet hit the floor with and my heart is brimming with gratitude. “Who wants to wake up Reecey with me?”  They spring to their feet and run into her room with songs and excitement, “good morning, good morning, good morning to you.”  She joins their chorus and I take the moment in, conscious gratitude for all of God’s awesome blessings.

“I will go about your alter, O Lord, that I may proclaim with thanksgiving and declare all Your wonders.” Psalm 26:6-7

Happy Thanksgiving…  I am consciously grateful for each of you!

4 comments:

NikkiD said...

What an inspiring and beautiful message. I have always loved reading your blogs...in fact, one of the very few I do read. This one moved me to comment. I just want you to know that I truly conciously appreciate you and your sweet family. It's really a shame we can't seem to get our families together more often. We hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday. We love you guys! <3

Laural Out Loud said...

What a wonderful reminder to us all. Even though I KNOW that I have a better attitude if I ask the Lord for help in the morning, I don't often do it. I need to do it every morning. So glad yours turned out the way it did, and that you wrote such a lovely post about it.

Margarita said...

Wow! I love it, the giggles, the reading, the laughter, the kids!!! Great stuff Tyner. Thanks for sharing!

Vashey Fam said...

Thank you Tyne. You made me tear up. I love your precious family. "Conscious Gratitude"... I will be pondering that.