Friday, October 1, 2010

A Few of My Favorite Things


I love The Sound of Music. Call me sappy if you want, but I delight in all 3 hours of it...(I think I hear my husband's eyes rolling). Remember the song; "My Favorite Things"? Don't worry - for your reading pleasure I will post the words (o.k., so if it's not your favorite thing...feel free to skip).

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens;
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens;
Brown paper packages tied up with strings;
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels;
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles;
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings;
These are a few of my favorite things.

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes;
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes;
Silver-white winters that melt into springs;
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the dog bites,
When the bee stings,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

By Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers

S0, I think I needed Julie Andrews around today. I WAS SO CRABBY! Our son woke us up early...yeah...3 year-old early. Not to mention that 3 year-old has been feeling poorly this week. My teeny toddler, who is usually quite happy and all sunshine in morning - was not sunshine. And, felt I was coming down with whatever my son was fighting. Blah. I was trying to be nice and sweet - but it wasn't working. I just stood by and watched my crabby words float out of my mouth and onto my unsuspecting family...well my husband suspected...suspected I was in a bad mood.
I realized that unless I did something - I was headed for a bad day. So, I prayed. I prayed that Jesus would help me turn things around. Because of the depths of the crabbiness I had succumbed to - it seemed almost an impossibility. But, if you know Jesus, You know that He is the Master of impossibilities. I was just sweeping the floor when it happened. I started to think about how I liked the new floor my husband put in. Then I thought about how nice it was to have such a good husband. Then I thought about how blessed I was to have two children. Then I thought how great it was that we could give them food every day...every hour. Then I thought about how blessed we were to have a home. And just like vapour, my crabby thoughts dissipated into thin air. Sigh.
Before Julie Andrews ever sang the words - "I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad" - God inspired these words;

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:4-8

Next time you have one of those days, tap into God's strength and let Him remind you of all of your favorite things. :)