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Day 12: Choose JOY!



March 27, 2020


“It’s not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters.” -Epictetus (50-138 AD)
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” -William Arthur Ward (1921-1994)
“We cannot direct the wind , but we can adjust the sails.” -Dolly Parton (1946- )
All of these quotes seem to be saying the same thing. The first one, even though it’s 1900 years old, is the one I’ve heard and said the most, with a bit of a Texan twist of course. (“Its not what happens, it’s how ya handle it.”) So much easier to say than to do. Each morning as I sip my first cup of coffee and a bright new day stretches out before me, I have the best of intentions. (Work stuff...Household stuff...Be positive and patient ) I don’t actually write that last one down, although maybe I should. It’s a life goal for an impatient person. (in a small house with lots of people and dogs) Bolstered with prayer and caffeine and armed with my “to do” list I rise to begin my day. And BAM! Just like that, reality rears it’s ugly head. The dog has thrown up and I step in it barefooted... on the carpet. At this point it can go either way. “Oh, would you look at that? How sweet. Vomit between my toes and on the carpet. Well it could be worse. It could be poop.” OR “Oh my God! Gross! Stupid dog!That’s it!Teddi, you’re going to the pound!” This has happened to me multiple times over the years. It’s about a 20-80 split on my reaction. It’s 100% that I gag every time. So the (gut) reaction in the moment is something I need to work on. But more important to the rest of my day is the recovery time. Will I let this define my day or can I just clean it up and move on? 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says it short and sweet. “Always be joyful.” That’s a tall order. I am so imperfect. I’m an impatient, micro-managing worrier by nature. The very next verse (17) is my only hope: “Always keep on praying.” And the next (18): “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It’s rough in the world right now! Do your best! Pray a lot. CHOOSE JOY! 😊

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