Y2K, remember all the hype? My friends and I used to dream about what life would be like at the turn of the decade, the century, and even the millennium! I would be 33 years old. Would I be married? Have children? What would technology be like? Would we be living in space stations by then? Years of watching “The Jetsons” growing up fueled my imagination with grandiose ideas of robot housekeepers, push button dinners, and flying cars.
How did it turn out? Sick kids!! Yep! I spent my New Years Eve that year cleaning lasagna puke off the walls and out of the carpet and rocking a crying toddler all night long. I cried along with her! You might even say I threw quite a temper tantrum! Waaaahh!!! Not quite the romantic Y2K I had dreamed of! Who said motherhood was glamorous?
After feeling sorry for myself for a bit, and whining like a big baby, I had a profound realization. Yes, even amidst the crying and puking! It suddenly occurred to me that I did not have to be reacting like this and making the situation worse. So what if things did not turn out as I had hoped and dreamed of for over thirty years of my life to celebrate the great turn of the millennium? This is what I had been dealt, and there was no way out except to change my attitude.
I had the power to transform the atmosphere at that very moment and to make a decision to respond differently.
I just started singing. At first, I sang “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” Somebody tell me why in the world I always started with that song when my babies cried?That was one of my strange mother quirks in those days! It seemed to soothe them, so there I went. “Pardon me boys, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?…”
However, as I looked into their sweet little sick faces, my heart began to melt to think how miserable they must be feeling, and that their mama’s attitude had not helped much. I began making up songs of thanksgiving and praising God for His wonderful blessings. Instead of looking at the mess, I began to see how very blessed I was. I began waltzing my daughter around the room and singing worship songs to the Lord. I began smiling and feeling a bit of joy and gratitude – even running on 0 hours of sleep!
Eventually, I became so overwhelmed with the peace of God that filled my home that night. Wow! I know the kids saw it in me, and I could certainly see the change in them. What a huge difference a little attitude adjustment can make! I even smiled and returned to my sweet and gentle mommy voice. No more grouchy mama!
I learned one of the most valuable lessons in my life that night. I learned that I always had the choice as to how I would respond to situations in my life, and that I could always make things better by speaking praise and thanks instead of complaining and whining. I learned that I never had to let circumstances pull me under, but it was my perspective and my approach to the circumstances that made all the difference.
I do not live in a world of denial, however. I still have normal emotions and get upset once in awhile. I am human! However, the severity of my pain and discouragement in life is greatly diminished when I remember to praise instead of whine.
I also learned that my feelings have nothing to do with God’s worth to receive praise. Worship is about Him, not me! He is worthy no matter how I am feeling. That is why we are able to praise and worship God with all our hearts no matter what we are going through.
I still have my pity parties here and there, but I will never forget the lesson I learned on Y2K. I can always go to God for the emotional strength and the peace I need. He has it in abundance! I can also encourage myself in the Lord and not give in to the mulligrubs. Instead of making things worse by complaining, whining, and focusing on the negative components, I can instead give thanks, praise, and focus on God’s blessings. Speaking God’s Word over my situations, on top of giving thanks and praise, will turn any oppression or defeat into victory, joy, peace, and overwhelming blessings.
So, maybe Y2K wasn’t so fun, but it was one of the profound turn-arounds of my life! Thank you Lord!
Here is the bottom line:
We can fuel the funk by giving in to whining, neediness, and a rotten attitude. Our thoughts, words, and outlook can determine how long we stay and how deeply we become buried under our problems. We can allow discouragement to grow and overcome us.
Or, we can intentionally give God praise and thanks in all situations. We can put our focus on the goodness of God instead of being overcome with our problems. We can turn our whining into thankfulness and see a major life turn-around. Praising God will bring major benefits – such as setting our hearts and minds on Him, defeating the enemy, turning our attitude around, connecting us with the power of God to make lasting change, setting our minds above our problems, honoring the God who delivers and sustains us, giving us strength and victory, and reminding us who we are and who He is!
These are some of the quotes from Debbie Alsdorf’s book Faith Dare that I have used to help reform my attitude:
“Constant complaining only serves to keep the negative fire burning brightly. It’s time to put out the fire’s flame. Don’t fan it. Put it out!”
“If your situation is not good, then thank God that He is!”
“We do not have to live in a place of discouraged neediness. We can live as a daughter of the King!”
“Inner strength is God’s best for us…And His will does not add up to being needy, whiny, and discouraged all day long!”
“What if your troubles today are forming inner strength in you for tomorrow?”
“God is working in me and His work is good – this is my confidence in all situations.”
