Gripes

Yesterday's sermon was good for at least one person in attendance--me! The text was Psalm 15o and the title was "Praise the Lord." I noted in some of my reading that one writer talked about attitude and how much an attitude could be improved by thinking and naming all the things for which we can proclaim: "Praise the Lord."

The day began with Tom getting back in bed after taking his 7 a.m. meds and telling me that he didn't think he could make it to church. That's always a bummer! Later, while we were eating breakfast, the phone rang and I got up to answer, thinking it would be one of the children. It wasn't. It was Ernesto, calling from some research place, wanting to engage me in conversation. I was so mad!! In a very agitated voice I told him that we were on a "do not call" list, what's more it was Sunday and such a call was inappropriate on the Sabbath. To top that off, I noticed when I backing out of the garage that one of the pansy plants I had potted was lying outside the pot like someone had dug it up in the perfect formation of the pot it was in when it came from the nursery. I was already running late so there was no time to do anything but fume. I did tell Tom when I got home that I was gunning for a squirrel--I had found a pecan in the pot last week when I got it ready for the pansies and knew the guilty party.

On the way to Humboldt, I was thinking of the worship service, the Scripture and the sermon and remembered what I'd read. Gratitude wins over complaints every time. My attitude would be improved if instead of thinking about Ernesto and the squirrel, I'd praise God from whom all my blessings flow. It worked almost immediately. That's good. Imagine what a hypocrite I would have been, preaching on praise while grumbling on the inside!

A different sort of thing happened today. I walked into the grocery store behind a lady who walked with a cane. Right inside the door is one of those floor mats designed to clean and dry your feet as you walk over it. The problem was the rubber border around the edge had worn off and the lady caught her cane on it. She could have had a serious fall. On the way out one of the managers spoke as she passed me and I asked if she had a minute. I told her about the mat and she didn't just say "thank you" and tell me she'd see about it. She followed me out of the store so I could show her and she moved the mat. That rarely happens--and I praised the Lord for people who care.

Around your Thanksgiving table this year, take time to let everyone, young and old alike, share at least one way God has blessed them in 2009. A good hearty "Praise the Lord" is a good addition to your holiday feast.

Blessings,
Pastor Margaret