Set Your Mind On...Slushy Makers?
I woke up and followed my nose to the coffeepot in the kitchen. The tears began almost before I could put a lid on the mug. My middle son Quinn sat tucked away in a corner of the couch watching a cartoon but with the sensory awareness of a bloodhound, he called out to me. “Why are you crying, Mommy?”
Quinn has always been my empathetic one-last week I had a terrible migraine that landed me in the hospital for the evening. For the next few days, I couldn’t sit down without him being right by my side with a blanket to tuck around me, a glass of water pushed into my hand, or a wet wash cloth being pressed to my forehead. He’s going to make a great husband someday!
So it wasn’t a surprise that he was the first to catch on to my sad spirit this morning. I woke up reflecting on a disappointment that happened yesterday and I just couldn’t shake it. Ever feel that way? Even though a situation may have blown over, the after effects still linger and get you down?
Trying my best to compose myself, I responded to Quinn’s concerned question. “I was just thinking about something sad that happened yesterday Quinny. Mommy will be okay.”
And then he said it. The words that turned me around. “Mommy, just think about a slushy maker!”
Ah, that was it, wasn’t it? I was thinking about the wrong things.
For my 3 year old son, there are few things better or more wonderful to consider than the slushy maker. His birthday is coming up, and it’s at the top of his list. When he and I have a Mommy-Quinn date, it almost always involves a red and blue slushy. Just like that, my tears abated and I grinned. How could I possibly dwell on the negative when there were slushy makers to be dreamed of?
Quinn was right though. His innocence turned my melancholy spirit around and it instantly reminded me that I have a choice to set my mind on whatever it is I am thinking about today.
God tells us to set our minds on specific things:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8
And from The Message:
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:8 The MessageIt’s perfectly human to have emotions, to cry, to take time to grieve. But Quinn reminded me that I was dwelling on a negative situation, and that I didn’t have to. I can think about things that are true. Noble. Right. Pure. Lovely. Admirable.
In this situation, that’s exactly what I needed to do.
I traded my thoughts about loss and disappointment for thoughts about my blessings, the promises of God that He is with me and turns all things for good, and of course, I’m thinking a lot of slushy makers.
I’m pretty sure that to seal the lesson in my mind that we will be making an afternoon run to 7 Eleven today. And we will do a toast. Here’s to thinking on things above, not on earthly things!
YOUR TURN!! Do you tend to dwell on negative thoughts? What is something noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable that you can dwell on today?
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