PLAN A MOM: MODEL CHRIST'S GRATITUDE | Debbie Taylor Williams

Plan A MOM – MODEL CHRIST’s GRATITUDE to Your Kids

“Live like today was your last day on earth.”

I have no idea who came up with that saying, but no doubt he or she was an optimist. I wonder if it was a woman whose day consisted of dragging herself out of bed to the sound of a crying infant; prodding kids to eat, or perhaps worrying over adult children.

We may ask, if this were my last day on earth, what would I do differently? Would I perhaps have a different attitude?

LIVE OUT LOUD One word can change your attitude as you go through your day. I know. You’re not easily buying that one word can change your life. But it can. Think with me for a minute. Jesus said the things that come out of our mouths come from the heart (Matthew 15:18). Jesus demonstrated thankfulness to God, even when He stood before Lazarus’ tomb: “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” Since what’s in our hearts spills out of our mouths, it’s worthwhile to consider what’s in our hearts. Is it “I have to” or “I get to”? Is it a bad attitude or Christ’s attitude of thankfulness even in the midst of seemingly impossible situations?

“LAND MINE” – DRUDGERY

Try it on for size. How would you fill in the blank? “I have to …? .”

Now, using the same sentence, change “have to” to “get to”: “I get to … .” By replacing “have” with “get,” you defuse a land mine of negativity. You choose a perspective that propels you from drudgery to living in the optimism of your God-given day. I speak from experience. Many times I have thought, “I have to . . . ” Then God reminds me that it’s a privilege to fulfill that which He’s given me to do; and remembering that changes my attitude from “have to” to “get to.”

Try it. I challenge you to switch from “have to” to “get to.” When you make it a practice, you’ll discover you have more than a word switch. You’ll also see a change in your attitude, from drudgery to hope-filled purpose—an attitude that is contagious with your children.

MORE 2 help U in The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World. Also vailable on KINDLE – 1ST CHAPTER FREE

A BIBLICAL “GET TO” MOM, p 44

LAUREN (my daughter) SHARES Her Story, p 44

LIVE OUT LOUD Attitude/Gratitude Checkup, pg 48

LOVE OUT LOUD Questions to Discuss with a Friend/Group, pg 49

PLAN A MOM WEEKLY TIP

Teach your children to defuse the land mine of a bad attitude by adopting an attitude of gratitude. Model GRATITUDE to your children.

PLAN A MOM PRAYER

Father, help me practice a “get to” rather than a “have to” attitude—one that honors You and models a thankful spirit to my children. Help them develop a thankful attitude, one filled with gratitude for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOR!

One day, as we returned home not long after Taylor had first started school, he couldn’t get out of the car fast enough. He rushed right into the bathroom. When he reemerged, I asked him why he hadn’t gone to the bathroom before he left school. “I don’t like to go at school because the toilets are dirty,” he replied. “But I’ve figured out a way to do it if I have to go. I sit on my hands.”

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SUBSCRIBE to this Blog in the right hand sidebar OR EMAIL me at debbie@debbietaylorwilliams.com with the message, “YES! I WANT TO MODEL CHRIST TO MY KIDS!” *PLEASE ADD debbie@debbietaylorwilliams to your contacts so it doesn’t get caught in your spam folder! See you next week! Til then, practice gratitude.

Love, Debbie

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