Sometimes I want to trade the box I am living in for someone else box. It's those time I usually lose, not my salvation, but I lose my attitude toward what ever is causes me to want to trade. I become focus on me, me, me.
I think you get the picture of where I am. It's been a couple of bad days because of my health which causes my box to stink of self pity. My box will probably get a little more shabby as I age, but it's the box God given me.
One things that remains the same and brings me comfort, calms my worries, helps me deal with, "whatever" my box, is the fact of being a child of God.
Everything else may change but not who I am in Christ. I may act like a brat at times but I am still His, bought and paid for by His precious blood shed on the cross. He knows my box, He is in my box all the time with me, never leaves me.
Just a look into others box and the heartaches it contains is enough to bring me out of my self pity box.
I am not hiding out in fear for my life and my family life.
I am not on a respirator that is breathing for me.
I am not crying with grief because someone I love has died.
I am not having to begging for food to feed my family.
I am not living in a make shift tent.
etc.
If you are a child of God, you don't lose your status if you have a bad week. - Timothy Keller
I think I will play in my own box, how about you?
Oh, Betty, sometimes we surely do need attitude checks. We wine and complain but when we hear another's story, we say, Thank You, LORD, for my mess rather than theirs. i'm sorry to hear of your continued health challenges. I'm hugging you, my blogging friend. I'm hugging you.
ReplyDeletethanks Diane for the hug. I admit, I have been a little discouraged lately because my health issue still cause me to not have energy and strength. I see that picture with the cute little kitten and God begin to work to soften my heart AGAIN. You would think He would get so tired of us and our petty wining. thanks God He doesn't though, He continue to listen and wait and He is so good at waiting for us to come around. I don't feel like He ever says to me, get a grip Betty, you have been walking Calvary's road too long to struggle with a bad attitude. He always lovingly tugs at my heart to get closer to Him. Amazing.
DeleteOh, I love this story. Yes, there have been times when I wished I could trade in my "box" for another, but then, like you said...I look at other boxes and find that my box is actually quite nice and cozy and comfy and I am very thankful to be here as opposed to where others may be dwelling at this time. Yes, even with my foibles and issues and griefs I am still much better off than so many in this world right now. Thank You, Jesus, for giving me THIS box in which to dwell with YOU!. Amen. Hope you feel better today.
ReplyDeleteAll I have to do is watch five minutes of the world news and I feel conviction at my woe is me attitude. My box is cozy and comfy too Pam. I am thankful my box most of the time, it's just on days when I hurt and wanted to do something fun and I couldn't that I fall into the trap of woe is me. Thanks for the encouragement.
DeleteWe certainly can sink into our self-pity box when things aren't going right, Betty, but all we have to do is look around at the myriad plights of others to realize that we actually are blessed beyond measure. We are children of God, and that should always be enough.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Well said Martha, well said.
DeleteI once read a statement: "Comparisons are odious." I have long ago decided i will play in my own sandbox and be content.
ReplyDeleteI wanted out of my sandbox only for a few hours to go with my daughter shopping and see my sandbox. That did not happen and I got really bent out of shape. I don't want to be anyone else, don't want their box either, I just want to be healthy so others do not worry about me. For me it's an comparison to where I use to be to where I am now. Sorry, I am lamenting again. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteSuper blog
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on my site. Loved your last post, encouraging.
DeleteA nice post with special words. I especially related to "I am not crying with grief because someone I love has died," because I am at the moment. My nephew died last week and am terrible sad lately. I also wanted to thank you for your comment on my post. It was special (I do know someone who knows all and He holds my past, present and future in His hands and in that I can rest). That is so true.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet new blog friends. Your blog name suits you. : )
~Sheri
I wanted to answer your question.....we named our blog what we did because I love red roses and I've always thought alleys were a bit mysterious and fun, so we put it together and called it Red Rose Alley. We thought it was a good name, and we've had the blog for 10 years. : )
DeleteThank you Sheri for visiting my site. I am wisdom seeker at all cost. When I got saved at 35 I had lived enough of life without Christ to know what didn't work. Through the years I have taught on being a, "courageous wise hearted woman". In my early walk with Him I begged for wisdom and continue to do so. I am so sorry for the loss of your nephew. We have faced several friends death in the last year but no one in the family. I have to be careful and not read too much news for it saddens me too. And I know I cannot fix any of it. It's nice to meet you also Sheri, how did the name of your blog come about? Look forward to reading your post more. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteI have always been a person who, when bad things appear to happen, try to focus on the fact that my box is half full, not half empty. I will always say. 'I will love Thee oh Lord my strength.' Trials strengthen us.
ReplyDeleteTry as hard as I can to maintain a half full box I still have those times when I my sight shifts to my circumstances. Its good to know He has not shifted away from me to outside my box. You are so right trials strengthens us. May of 2019 we had a major move to another state and then my health begin to decline and Covid hit our household. I have only 30 percent of one kidney left. My faith in His love and Him being in all that with me has grown my resolve to not allow those times I fall into my flesh destroy me and my faith in Him to hold me. I loved your comment Brenda, it was encouraging.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right and what you have written here is an excellent reminder that there are always people who are worse off than us. Gratitude is vital for our spiritual survival, and often for physical maintenance as well.
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DeleteThanks Barbara for the visit and kind words. I am always amazed that God always brings me around to where He wants me, humble at His feet. Blessings.
Dear Wise Hearted,
ReplyDeleteAmen -- we have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes I worry about my circumstances, disappointments, and dangers, and it is easy to forget that God is still on His throne, controlling all, never leaving us or forsaking us, and working all things together for our ultimate good and His glory.
Thank you for this excellent post and for commenting on my blog.
God bless,
Laurie
I loved reading your testimony about you being a dancer and your husband too. Slow dancing is about all I can get my husband to do. I love watching ball room dancing. Blessings.
DeleteYour words are wise, Betty. Even in the midst of all that assails us, God still speaks peace and rest to our souls. I'm so grateful ...
ReplyDeleteHello Linda, hope all is well with you. Thanks for the visit. Blessings.
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