All posts tagged carnival

This is our last official week of the challenge!  But of course, don’t let that stop you from living for joy everyday.

I’d like to thank everyone who participated and took the time to link up.  I tried to visit all of your posts though I may have missed some.  Please know I appreciate that you were here!

Bad Thoughts Can be Spiritual

I was reading an article today from a woman who said she shouldn’t have had eight children — if she listened to the world.  The message she got in her rough moments was that she was impatient, selfish, basically bad, and didn’t deserve to have all the children that she did.  I can totally relate to how she feels because I sometimes feel that way too!

She pointed out, and I think it’s important to share, that these thoughts are from the devil.  Not one of us is perfect and that is absolutely true.  But none of us are terrible people just because we have some faults.  Sure, I can be impatient or say things I don’t mean but that doesn’t make me a bad person or a bad parent.  It doesn’t make anyone else a bad person, either!  Besides, I know Jesus and I have His grace, so I don’t have to let the enemy get me down with his bad thoughts.  I mess up a lot, but I’m forgiven for it.

When you feel unhappy and like everything’s going wrong, pray.  Tell the devil you aren’t falling for his game and ask God to protect your heart.

Bad Thoughts Can Be Physical

It really struck me last week how what I eat (or don’t eat) can affect my mood.  When I don’t eat enough, when I eat junk food, or when I don’t eat enough fat, I don’t feel that well.  I get extra impatient.  The littlest things irritate me and I fly off the handle and react too strongly to everything around me.  Whereas when I feel well, I might feel mildly and momentarily irritated by a stubborn child (and still able to correct gently and properly), I’d lose it and scream when I didn’t feel well.  And that’s not good for anyone.

Just a funny story — this week I made sure to eat better so I’d feel strong and balanced.  My 2-year-old found a piece of cheese my 3.5-year-old had gotten out and found a butter knife to try to cut it.  I insisted he stop what he was doing and bring it to me.  He ignored me.  I went over to him and asked him again.  He ran from me (without the knife).  I followed him and asked for it again, telling him there would be discipline if he did not.  He turned in the opposite direction and threw the cheese across the room.  I walked him over to it and told him to pick it up and hand it to me.  He picked it up, but ran again, and tried to throw it behind the couch.  I didn’t want to waste the food, so I grabbed him at that point and took the cheese from him.  He was mad.  And he was disciplined for that little show of defiance and stubbornness!  But although I felt a flash of irritation when he was about to chuck the cheese behind the couch, I was able to remain calm throughout this.

It’s a big difference that a focus on nutrition makes!

Joy and Blessings This Week

What reasons do I have to be happy this week?

• I got to hear my baby laugh several times
• I found a junk-free dark chocolate bar with almonds to eat as a treat, a few squares a day
• I wrote yesterday’s Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti Squash post, and I’m really pleased with how the pictures came out!
• I’ve been making decent headway on my newest book and I’m really excited for it
• I’m still loving hearing Daniel talk all the time (usually!)
• Bekah explained to me what she thinks God is like:  ”He has feet, and arms, and ears so He can always hear us, and eyes so He can always see us.  Oh, and He has milk, like you.  He might be a girl.”
• My kids were fighting the other day, and instead of totally melting down, Bekah stopped, simply blocked Daniel’s efforts to pull her hair and said “Keep your hands to yourself.”  Then he stopped, said he was sorry, and they hugged.  Without my intervention.

How did I bless others this week?

• I’ve taken care of each of my family members as they’ve taken turns being sick (unfortunately), as well as taking care of all the kids myself while Ben was sick
• I served in the AWANA ministry at church and snuggled babies
• I made Ben a special dinner one night after he said he didn’t want the first one I made
• I gave Ben neck and leg massages when he didn’t feel well
• I made one of Ben’s favorite meals (that chicken parm again!)

I feel bad saying all those things but I asked Ben how he thought I had blessed others this week and that is what he said.

Share with us — why are you happy this week?