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Jun 01, 2021 1421 Connie Beckman, USA
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When You Wake Up Grumpy

Having a bad day? Get out of the “‘stinkin’ thinkin’” now!

I woke up grumpy and out of sorts this morning.  You know the saying, ‘I got up on the wrong side of the bed’—that was me, for sure.  It certainly wasn’t good to start the day like I ate a bunch of sour gummy worms. However, as I sat at my kitchen table eating breakfast and reading my daily scriptures, I opened the front door to let the sunshine and brightness in.

Then it happened! 

I heard the glorious sound of a symphony of birds singing. I sat there with my eyes closed and listened, as the birds were praising their Creator for yet another day.  “Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.”  Psalm 104: 12.
            It was as if the Holy Spirit poured into my heart a melody of praises. My grumpiness crumbled in the midst of the choir of birds joyfully chanting praises to God, their Creator.  Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” Psalm 95.

This Holy Spirit moment helped me realize that my best shield, to deflect a bad mood, is to sing praises to Our God. I am not sure if birds ever have a bad day or get grumpy. But even if they do, they still sing praises to their Creator. Jesus tells us: Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

I have heard it said that the way to stop stinking thinking is to counter it with three positive thoughts. A sure remedy, to bring myself out of a negative attitude, is to read the Psalms and thank God for all my blessings and His loving care for me and my family and friends.

Sure, sometimes I just want to stay in my stinking thinking world for a while with its doom and gloom.  But then the Holy Spirit invites me to sit down on my deck, close my eyes and listen to the orchestra of birds singing.  When I do, I breathe in the Light of Christ, changing my gloom into a joyful attitude of thanksgiving and praise.

Thank you, Jesus for showing me, through the singing birds and the wildflowers, that I too can rejoice and sing praises to Our Creator.  “The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” Song of Solomon 2:12

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Connie Beckman

Connie Beckman is a member of the Catholic Writer’s Guild. She desires to encourage Catholic spiritual growth by sharing the truths of the Catholic faith. Beckman shares her joy and love of God through her writings.

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