Snuggled on the couch underneath my favorite, t.v viewing blanket, I let out a contented sigh. We survived another year decking the halls for Christmas and shockingly, it went smooth! No catastrophes, no blow-ups....no tears!! The glow from the t.v and our newly, decorated Christmas tree filled the living room as the we huddled together on the couch; comfy, cozy and content, basking in the joy of surviving another year. I smugly thought back to all the clearly marked storage tubs and the ingenious diagrams and detailed lists that I left tucked in with the decorations easily showing where everything was to go. That had to have been the key! Feeling proud of my OCD and exceptional organizational skills, my head swelled a bit larger at the thought of the Christmas Decorating Contract I drew up a few years back that we all re-read together that morning to keep the "grouchies" away. Traditionally, it is NOT a Norman Rockwell Christmas scene over here on decorating day, the day after Thanksgiving! Grumbles and mumbles from good ol' Mom and Dad replace the smiling, cheerful ones that can be seen in one of Mr. Rockwell's paintings....and the kids? In our family portrait....children are no where to be seen, they scatter keeping as far away from the "grouchies" as possible.
My hopeful thinking that I found the key to our new found decorating bliss was interrupted by a horrific sound that I was no stranger to at this time of year. NO.......WAY!! Oh please, not again! The unmistakable sound of clinking glass and bulbs and the rustling of pine needles and ribbon was as loud as a lumberjacks "TIMBER!!!", jostling me back to reality from my self-absorbed day dream of Christmas perfection. My ninja-quick reflexes kicked in and this pink, robed Bruce Lee burst out of her blanket cocoon and was up like a shot to examine the damage. Standing above my tree that lay in a heap on the floor that I had spent so much time on, placing each bulb, ribbon and bow in just the right spot in artistic, perfect precision, was when I felt the first little twinge. My hand went straight up to my nose. With my family gathered around, I could feel a unified, silent gasp..........."Oh oh....."
In a police line up, its not hard to picture Oscar the Grouch, green, wild-haired and dirty, leaning out his dented trash can alongside Grumpy Dwarf with his long face, crossed arms and sour attitude. Next in line, standing shoulder to shoulder alongside Grumpy, another guilty grumbler stands; the axe swinging, little rumbler, Grimli, from "Lord of the Rings". All three are guilty as charged with the "grouchies" and if you were to look a little closer, you'd see a fourth in this rowdy band of brothers. Yep, that'd be me....maybe towering just a tad taller.......but just as guilty and armed with the same prickly attitude.
Guilty of the Grouchies!
Growing up, I remember talking to the Lord about my battle with the "grouchies" and telling Him how hard it was to control my short, hot temper. I prayed, "Lord, if ya just gimme a warning the "grouchies" are coming...... you and me.....we can stop it before it gets nasty." I was really little, but I was convicted in a big way! It wasn't long until one of my brothers did something that really got my juices flowing and I got an answer to my prayer. I felt a little feather tickle in my nose. Weird. I tried the Sabrina "Bewitched" nose twitch to stop it. I'd sniff and rub and rub and sniff but it just got stronger and stronger until.................KACHOOO!! Thinking something just crawled up my nose and died, I shook it off. Until the next time my temper flared....and it happened again! This continued on a few times until I finally got it, this could be my sign I prayed for. I learned a lesson that day. A) Be careful what you pray for! and B) The Lord really does hear and answer our prayers!!
That was YEARS ago, and at 42, every time I get annoyed, ticked or miffed, my childhood answered prayer still faithfully kicks in! It's a instant, visual cue to the ones who know me best the moment my hand shoots up to rub my nose an inward battle is taking place. With each itch and feathery tickle, I feel the Lord's eyes upon me; watching to see how I handle the approaching "grouchies" with my flashing red warning light He installed in the middle of my face. With each nose rub, I weigh my two choices. Go with the moment and let it all fly, or heed the warning and batten down the hatches and lasso my tongue.
Rubbing my nose and letting out a loud sniff, I look sadly at my beautiful tree. I had no clue where to start. Kris bravely made the first move and lifted my mangled tree back to its upright position. It looked as sad as I felt! I managed to heed the warning from the insane tickle in my nose and kept my mouth shut....for the most part. I did manage to muster up a few chuckles and even practiced Prov. 15:1 to answer one of my kids questions in a soft, sweet tone. I was told later it was a little too sweet (over compensation, I think!) when I asked how I did with this years decorating battle with the "grouchies". Good news, I got a passing grade! Bad news, I still have work to do!
Thinking back (not only does pride come before the fall!), being organized is great and, yeah, it was a big help, but the smoother decorating year wasn't due to the diagrams, lists or the even the decorating contract. The perfect Rockwell picture stamped in my head of sugar plums, steaming cups of hot cocoa and merry, carol singing is my expectation every year at decorating time. No one can live up to my perfect standards, even myself, so I am disappointed every time and left with the "grouchies". This year, however, my heart was in a different place. November's 30 Days of Thanks gave my heart and attitude an adjustment and like a visit to the chiropractor, my spotlight on thankfulness popped them back in their proper positions; of praise and worship. The side effect I witnessed was astounding when I purposely took the time to think and meditate daily on what the Lord has graciously and generously given me! Joy filled my heart when I saw my Master's hands in my everyday!
There is, believe it or not, another side effect to a heart happy, light and filled with joy. In God's word, we can find that giving praise and thanksgiving to our Lord and King can lead, in most cases, to joyful contagious singing! Isaiah 50:4..."joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody (singing!)" and Ezra 3:11 ".....and they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because He is good, for his mercy endureth forever...." With my own heart happy, light and filled with God's mercy's, it's easier for me to be that playful, lighthearted Mom singing crazy, made-up songs that my kids crack up to and inevitably, one or all start singing along! The "voices of melody" and the word "they" implies multiple people, multiple voices. Joy...... is extremely contagious! But, question is, how do we keep a heart happy, light and full of joy? David writes the prescription in Psalms 100. A daily dose of this song should keep the joy flowing!
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name,
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
It's amazing to think this prescription of David's is thousands of years old and this cure for our hearts is still as potent as ever! Now, I wonder if he's got anything for itchy noses?
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