It’s funny: as I write this post on the eve of my devotion for Encouragement for Today I am complaining about some things I have to do. I guess in sense I sound like my daughter when she wrote the letter boycotting her chores.
I would like to be all spiritual here and tell you that working without crumbling and complaining is as easy as 1-2-3 then give you 1-2-3.
Here’s the truth:
- We all have to do things we don’t like to do.
- It’s is challenging to have a good attitude about doing the things we don’t like to do.
In case you haven’t read my devotion here are the spiritual steps we can take to make sure our heart is right.
- Renew my heart each morning. (Psalm 90:14)
I quickly realized how different my attitude was when I started each day with prayer. - Repent of the sin in my heart daily. (Psalm 51:10)
I have to confess my wrong attitudes. - Rend my heart. (Joel 2:12-13)
What I put in my heart definitely comes out of my mouth. - Rest my heart when necessary. (Psalm 127:2)
Rest needs to be a priority.
Having a good attitude about what we are doing has everything to do with our mind. We have to change our thinking and often we have to change it quick.
Here are some not so spiritual things we can do to readjust our attitude toward our assignments.
- Do the yuckiest thing first.
I don’t necessarily mean the dirtiest. Do what we like the least first. Getting the yuckiest over first helps the remaining part of the assignment more pleasant.
- Play the Glad game.
This isn’t original with me. I took from the Disney movie Pollyanna. When Pollyanna wasn’t happy or faced something she didn’t like she challenged herself to think of something that made her glad. Ya’ll this really works. For example, (sorry if this offends my fitness fit friends out there) I don’t like to exercise. In fact I think I was born without endorphins, you know those things your body produces when you exercise that are supposed to make you happy, because I am NOT happy when I exercise. However, I play the Glad game; think of something that makes me happy or that I am thankful for and exercise is tolerable.
- Clean up right away.
It makes my attitude better when things are put away in the right places. (Except don’t come to my house today, nothing is in its place)
Learning do the yucky first and playing the Glad game has taught my children so much about attitude and work. Well, one kid has it down and the other one, well he’s 15, enough said.
Thanks for hoping over to my cyber home. Have a great Monday!!!
After being frustrated by my chores and to-do list this weekend, this devotional and corresponding post have been very encouraging. Thank you for sharing.
I’m sitting on the cabin porch looking out at a cloudless, Carolina Blue sky in the midst of tall green pines and white, peeling birches. There are two birds singing their songs. I just finished sweeping out the cabin whose floor was loaded with pine needles trolled in after the last rain – six days ago. I need to also sweep the porch. That is defintely a Yuck chore. Now, thank you, Wendy, I will do it thinking of the Glad that will follow. Instead of hearing my grumbling, I do hear God speaking in the birds chirping and the whispering of the wind through the trees. Thank you.
It’s funny, I was just thinking about how irritated I was with my older son that he always complains about his chores. I was trying to think of some way I could help motivate him in a positive way and then I started complaining about how much more work that would be! So, you can just image how much your post today spoke to my heart. Thank you for your transparency! 🙂
I’m actually a grandmother who is still learning how to deal with children and teens, because I had done such a bad job of it when my children were small. I had no guidance except my unconfident prayers, and no blogs to go to for help back then. Devotionals and blogs about accountability and character are very appreciated. I must have ten devotionals at home, but I’m still enjoying your blog as a new subscriber. Older people can learn from younger too if we are open :-)). Prov 2:2 and 19:27. God doesn’t have age discrimination when He wants to teach us and if we are willing to learn. Thank you Wendy.