So I encouraged myself…

Christmas Day my house was full of family, the bar where I put all the food was overflowing, the standing rib roast I cooked was perfect according to my son who is something of a “foodie”.  After eating lunch everyone left on their trip down I-75 south headed to Disneyworld and I was left here with seven-month old twins, a pile of dirty dishes and all the leftover food.  The twins kept me busy so I cleaned up as much as I could during their short naps. I didn’t get the last load of dishes and pans in the dishwasher until yesterday evening. Today it was time for me to surrender the little guys to their other grandparents for a couple of days. They were as happy to see the little guys, as I was sad to leave them. I left without looking back. Suddenly I felt very alone. I walked back into my house and saw a discarded bottle lying under one of the little jumpers where Luke had thrown it when he finished, Elmo the furry red monster was still singing on the television and I imagined I could hear the echo of little Andrew giving his ear piercing squeal and Luke starting to cry because the sound of his brother’s squeal offends him every time, I don’t know why. I decided that it would be a good time for me to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” since I had not had the time to see it before Christmas so I turned it on, so familiar I can almost quote it, and then I heard the words I needed to hear. Clarence says, “What’s the matter with him, is he sick”, the head angel answered, “No, worse than that, he’s discouraged.”

The definition of discouragedis having lost your confidence or enthusiasm for something:

There are times that like George Bailey, we need to be reminded of the good we have done and how wonderful our life really is, so instead of feeling discouraged and lonely tonight I am going to be happy that the “guys” have other grandparents that love them as much as I do and enjoy being able to sit in my recliner, write a blog, and when I lay down to not worry about whether one of them will wake and need me.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Happy 2019, it’s right around the corner!