Criticism

I like to think of myself as an open book.  I learned quite some years ago that life isn't about winning a popularity contest, being the most witty, or the prettiest. If the Lord can use any of my struggles and imperfections to help or bless another I'm ready and willing.  I'm not perfect and my life isn't always a bed full of roses.  A matter of fact my life is usually everything but and that is just fine with me! I find that when times are the toughest and when I have to look at myself...I mean really look at myself warts and all, I not only find Jesus there, but just like the stone being rubbed smooth on a river bed, my heart, mind, and soul are being slowly refined into the person my heavenly Father created me to be.  The longer I live the more I realize how important it is to have humble heart and to be willing to accept others criticism.  I still struggle with this at times but over the soon to be 9 years of marriage I feel like this has been one of the biggest challenges for me but also one of the greatest blessings! The Lord in his infinite wisdom gave me a wonderful husband who has NEVER had issues with being honest with me...quite frankly sometimes he has been a little too honest! haha! But even those times the Lord used!

 My most recent criticism was over my face book posts.  My dear husband took me aside, pulled up my face book page and read to me all of my status updates from the past 2 months.  Then he said in a jokingly and yet serious manner, "You don't seem to post anything but whining."I wouldn't have called it whining...but it was negative none the less :) And it really made me think! For one, I don't want people to look at me as negative because I'm not! I'm actually quiet a positive person.  But secondly I came to realize that I'm far too dependent on face book.  What do I mean by that? I mean that instead of going to the Lord when the kiddo's are driving me crazy, the vacuum bag slips off and blows dust all over my bedroom and I'm frustrated, the dog decides to devour a whole bag of trash while I'm in another room or when I have 2 tons of laundry to do and I'm just sick of it...I try to share my misery online.   It doesn't really help much but that's what I do.  And then the thought crossed my mind...why do I do it then? Am I trying to make people feel bad for me? Am I trying to find encouragement? Am I lonely? I imagine these are probably all true at one time or another.  So I've decided for the next 30 days to post only positive updates on face book, and then after 30 days try to continue with the positives but give myself a little grace too..If I'm really frustrated and need encouragement, or just a prayer I think face book is a great venue for that but I'm so grateful to have been given yet another opportunity to look at myself in the mirror and let the Lord do his work in me.    Ohhh and I don't want to be stupid either! :)

Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid