Prayers for the Positive...

This morning I could hardly drag myself out of bed.

I made it to the kitchen only to find the sink still full of last night's dishes and unclean counter tops waiting for me to wipe them.

I can't figure out why I am so exhausted! Maybe it's the allergies, or maybe it's the medicine I'm taking for the allergies, or maybe it's phase 1 of the south beach diet and my exercising that's just wiping me out.

Maybe it's the weather.  It has rained here EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. so far this week starting with Sunday.

And it's been a doozy of a week!

My grandmother's health and mental capacities are rapidly diminishing.  I saw her on Saturday and was relieved that she seemed to recognize me, but I'm not sure she recognized my kids.

Things have gotten worse since then; she fell and ended up back in the hospital.

Both my kids have also been sick and missed school this week.

It's been a tough week to stay positive.  The rain has made it worse.

But just when I think I can't take any more rain, I notice how very GREEN everything is.  I remember how the last few summers have been rather dry.

So I stop and thank God for all this rain now, because who knows if this summer will be dry too?

I've gotten the message several times this week, that no matter what, we have to find the positive in a situation.  We have to remember that there is always a purpose even if we can't imagine good coming from these current circumstances.

And even now, I laugh as I think about how difficult being a mother can be, and my cute sweet son calling me stupid at the top of his lungs this morning.  He told me several times and then he told me I was stupid forever even when I died, but I wasn't going to Heaven, I was going to Hell.

He usually says, "I'll love you forever, even when you die and go to Heaven."

So I laughed because at least he knows the difference between Heaven and Hell. Later, I tried to use it as an opportunity to talk about that difference.  (In all honesty, he asks more Bible and theological questions than my almost 9 year old daughter.)

And all around me, I see things that are hard to deal with (children dying); or hard to hear (several new occurrences of cancer); or hard to see (like that Gosnell abortion clinic atrocity).

And while there may not be something good IN all of those things, I trust God that something good can come FROM all of those things.

So on this, The National Day of Prayer, my prayer is this:

Heavenly Father, you see our hurts.  You see our Nation's struggles and failures.  You know our hearts and you know when our words don't match what's in our heart.  Help us to always seek you first; to trust you for guidance and wisdom; to listen for your answers.

Help us, Lord, to step out in faith, or speak out in faith as needed.

Remind us that in every negative, you can make a positive.  Help us know that all things work together for those who are called according to Your purpose.

Thank you for all your blessings, even the incessant rain :-)

Amen.

What and who did you pray for today?