My Own Resurrection

The practice of Intentional Gratitude already has really made a difference in my life. I feel so open and in tune with God, and He is speaking to me clearly and meeting even the smallest of needs in unexpected ways.

Today He taught and inspired me with a warm and wonderful post by Ann at A Holy Experience. Please read it here. It is short but filled with wisdom, and it both convicted and uplifted me today. In it Ann shares how she is reminded, in a moment of irritation with a child, how as Christians we must "show our resurrection". Moment by moment we must allow our old selves to die and the new us, who we are in Christ, must be shown. This is not something that automatically happens. It is an action we must take, a conscious choice we make over and over again. Ephesians 4:22-24 explains it this way.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Shortly after reading Ann's post I had the chance to put this into practice. Aspen (age 5) and Abby (9mos) were playing on the floor together. I looked down just in time to see Aspen aggressively snatch a toy from Abby's hand and knock her over backward in the process. Abby cried and my anger flared. I wanted to scold, to yell, to be unkind. But I remembered the phrase Ann mentioned: "show me your resurrection"...

I swallowed my angry words as I knelt on the ground with both children. While stroking and comforting the baby I was warmed to see Aspen comfort her too and say she was sorry for making her fall down. I asked her, honey why did you do that?

Because she can't play with that one, it's small, she could choke.

I examined the toy and sure enough, it was one that I'd said not to give her, for that very reason. I was filled with guilt, but the Lord quickly replaced it with peace, as I hugged her and thanked her for being a good sister. In that moment we were filled with love, and victorious in Christ. There was no yelling, no rebellious back talk, no harsh words or punishment. There was simply us, expressing love together. And there was Gratitude.

Shortly after I confessed to Ashley (17) that I have been a terrible example, and shared the post with her and we made a stride forward, spiritually.

Later, my hubby came in from work with a small box in his hands. I brought you something, he proudly announced. Inside the box were small blessings, small gifts the Lord had provided. A pink plastic cup full of white plug caps to protect tiny fingers from exposed electrical outlets. A handful of baby bottle nipples, still wrapped in plastic, to replace ones we've lost recently. And a sealed can of powdered baby formula to donate to our Food Pantry at church. Perhaps the latter may be the most precious blessing, as with it came these words from my hubby: and you can take this to church to donate....what a miracle in that breath! These words from a man who not long ago would not allow me to give or donate anything to the church. Just last Sunday we argued briefly over my desire to donate some of our baby food, varieties I know Abby will not eat and they will go to waste. Yet he would not let them go, not to the church. Now in this gesture today there is a change of heart, a softening. In it I find hope for his resurrection.

And the Lord's lesson was not lost on me. The more I show him my resurrection, the more chance he has to seek his own. It wasn't about provision, it was about salvation. Again, I felt gratitude.

Later still, we visited the little historic train depot in the middle of town, and climbed around in an old caboose from 1965. Then Aspen enjoyed running down a ramp outside the depot and then walked along the edge of it, outside the railing. As I watched her carefully place one foot in front of the other I thought, that is what it must be like truly walking with Christ. We must take careful steps, and hold on to Him for support the whole way. I shared this with Ashley and she agreed. And again, there was gratitude.

Gratitude for His presence with me, for His use of my precious children to teach me, and gratitude for the chance to show others the most powerful testimony there is: my own resurrection.