She chooses to invest in JOY.

We have been snowed in this week!  With temperatures well below zero and the "feels like" temperature hovering around -35 (that is just insane) - we have been doing lots of activities indoors!  Tenley loves to paint with her water colors, so she has been doing that.  We have played memory, trouble and worked on more potty training.  Which I'm happy to report that Tenley is doing wonderful!  After several very trying attempts, she is now almost without accident during the day.  One big success in the Marshall house!  I was going a bit stir crazy in the house and yesterday I woke up in a pretty foul mood.  I knew that if I wanted to get through the day I would need to make some adjustments.  An active 3 year old and attention craving 1 one year don't exactly care if mommy needs a time out of her own.

I have been working through the attributes of a Proverbs 31 woman for awhile now.  After a few swapped text messages with my dear friend Trina, I realized that the advice I was giving her about her own foul mood needed to be said right to my own heart.  On our fridge I have this verse:

"A joyful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22

Below that verse it says:

"Though life may turn on her, she chooses not to reciprocate.  Instead, she strives to be emotionally generous towards others by investing in them with joy.  As a result, when darkness threatens to loom over her she can easily chase it away by giving joy."

Could I come up with any reason for my foul mood and quick temper?  No.  Nothing justified.  Was I giving joy to those closest to me?  Not even a little bit.  God knew just what I needed to hear at that moment.  Even in the times when I think I would rather crawl back in bed than hear the truth.  Instead, I needed to put to use another attribute I have been working on - getting up every morning and following through with my commitments, despite how I feel.  Those commitments included providing food for my family, sweeping, doing laundry, respecting my husband, etc.  I understand that if God can trust me with these small things, He can trust me with big things.

Show me Lord when I fail, teach me how to be the wife, mom, friend, sister, daughter - woman that you created me to be.  Help me to continue to do the work that you've given me.  Amen.