This morning after I got ready for church I began to question the choice of my ensemble. My pants were clinging to me like a baby monkey holds on to her momma, and of course I had no anti-static cling spray anywhere in the house. Oh, who am I fooling, I haven't owned a bottle of Static Guard for years. Anyway, I liked the look of my outfit, but just not so sure about the pants; so, I went to seek out my husband for his trusted opinion. I found him in the kitchen eating and he had no idea I'm about to ask him a question that will determine the temperature on our Love Thermostat.
"Gene, how do these pants look?" He stopped eating, looked me up and down and if memory serves me correct even asked me to turn around. He then answered me sweetly with, "Honey, I think you need to go to the gym." Okay, let's just say the man's answer made the Love Thermostat quickly drop into the negatives. The gym?? Are you serious? "Well okay, honey, tell Pastor Jerry that I'm at the YMCA instead of church today so when I decide to wear pants that cling to me and show every lump and bump I can LOOK GOOD!!" Oh my goodness!!
At first, I didn't quite know how to respond, so I just said, with teeth clenched together, "I know I need to go the gym Gene, but do these pants look okay?" Now if you don't know my man, your mouth is probably open...well, I take that back, even if you do know him your mouth is probably open like my mom's was when I told her. He tried to defend his answer to her, but she just kept saying, "Ouch...ouch" while shaking her head at him and laughing.
I know that Gene didn't mean any harm with his answer, it's just his twisted way of trying to motivate me. That is why I was able to sit by him in church and worship the Lord without having to ask God to forgive me for a regretful reply to his not so thought out answer. Dumb answer I might respectively add. Did the man not realize that I was looking for a thumbs up for my pants and not a workout plan for the body in the pants?
I did think about this during church and God told me that I'm the same way with Him. I ask Him a question, but sometimes I don't want to hear the answer. This has happened many times in my relationship with my heavenly Father. Sometimes I don't want to hear the truth...instead I want Him to sugarcoat it and tell me what I want to hear. Have you ever felt like that before? God answers you and your just standing there, or kneeling before Him with your mouth open thinking, I cannot believe He just said that! I have experienced this before and often times still do.
I want to completely surrender my life to Him and when I beg Him to tell me what changes I need to make so I'm usable, truth be told sometimes He hurts my feelings. One of many things I've learned about God is that He wants me to stand before Him with hurt feelings that leave my jaw on the ground in disbelief, and a willing and obedient heart to make the changes that allow Him to be able to do His thing.
After service, I walked out of the warm, soft lit sanctuary with my clingy pants into the bright foyer and engaged in conversation with our 13 year old man-child who just started shaving last year. I can't even tell you what we talked about since he interrupted me to whisper, "Mom, you need to shave right here" as he was pointing to his clean-shaved upper lip. ~Sigh~
"Gene, how do these pants look?" He stopped eating, looked me up and down and if memory serves me correct even asked me to turn around. He then answered me sweetly with, "Honey, I think you need to go to the gym." Okay, let's just say the man's answer made the Love Thermostat quickly drop into the negatives. The gym?? Are you serious? "Well okay, honey, tell Pastor Jerry that I'm at the YMCA instead of church today so when I decide to wear pants that cling to me and show every lump and bump I can LOOK GOOD!!" Oh my goodness!!
At first, I didn't quite know how to respond, so I just said, with teeth clenched together, "I know I need to go the gym Gene, but do these pants look okay?" Now if you don't know my man, your mouth is probably open...well, I take that back, even if you do know him your mouth is probably open like my mom's was when I told her. He tried to defend his answer to her, but she just kept saying, "Ouch...ouch" while shaking her head at him and laughing.
I know that Gene didn't mean any harm with his answer, it's just his twisted way of trying to motivate me. That is why I was able to sit by him in church and worship the Lord without having to ask God to forgive me for a regretful reply to his not so thought out answer. Dumb answer I might respectively add. Did the man not realize that I was looking for a thumbs up for my pants and not a workout plan for the body in the pants?
I did think about this during church and God told me that I'm the same way with Him. I ask Him a question, but sometimes I don't want to hear the answer. This has happened many times in my relationship with my heavenly Father. Sometimes I don't want to hear the truth...instead I want Him to sugarcoat it and tell me what I want to hear. Have you ever felt like that before? God answers you and your just standing there, or kneeling before Him with your mouth open thinking, I cannot believe He just said that! I have experienced this before and often times still do.
I want to completely surrender my life to Him and when I beg Him to tell me what changes I need to make so I'm usable, truth be told sometimes He hurts my feelings. One of many things I've learned about God is that He wants me to stand before Him with hurt feelings that leave my jaw on the ground in disbelief, and a willing and obedient heart to make the changes that allow Him to be able to do His thing.
After service, I walked out of the warm, soft lit sanctuary with my clingy pants into the bright foyer and engaged in conversation with our 13 year old man-child who just started shaving last year. I can't even tell you what we talked about since he interrupted me to whisper, "Mom, you need to shave right here" as he was pointing to his clean-shaved upper lip. ~Sigh~
NOTE TO SELF: Don't talk to the boys in your family!
Well, girlfriends, I'm off to the gym, then a quick pit stop to get the lip waxed...
~Many Blessings~
Lelia
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These are in no specific order, just Excellent blogs that bless me! These blogs make me laugh, cry, think & most importantly they all push me closer to God. Thanks Ladies!
1.) Susan at Forever His
2.) Kimberly from Planting of the Lord
3.) Cindy from Still His Girl
4.) Liz from Liz's Letters
5.) Pamela from In His Graces
6.) MaryLu from Creative Homemaker
7.) Linda from 2nd Cup of Coffee
8.) Sue at Praise and Coffee
9.) Mrs. Proverbs 31
10.) Heather at Heather's Ponderings
11.) Tami at The Next Step
God bless all of you!
13 comments:
Hi, Leila!
I actually meant to tell you today at church that i thought your outfit looked AWESOME!! I was up in the A/V booth and happened to see you come in ... "Wow," i thought, "Leila looks great!"
And, that is so cool how God answered your prayer for a sectional couch! Wow! (and yes, those pool tables are very handy for things other than pool, we had one for a time, that's another story)
~Heather
LOL! :::snort::: Oh my! I know never to ask the boys in our family anything! They are too brutally honest!
Why is it that they think this will be motivating to us? I just don't get it!
You gotta love the men in your life-look at the spiritual insight you got from this! I bet God just sat back with a big smile and thought "How are you going to handle this Lelia?"...He must be real pleased!!
Thanks for the encouragement r/t my blog. I do not get many responses compared to the hits. I have been worried my post were maybe too much about me and not enough about Him. I so want to reach out. I felt God's leading me to do this.
By the way, my husband and I have been working out since the last week in December. He has already lost 5 lbs. Now, how fair is that?!?!?
Your a blessing!
In His Graces~Pamela
What an honor. I'm all smiles. Thanks so much. I'm going to pass it on when I can find a couple of hours on the computer. I'm just here taking a break from putting out the fires.
But, what if you don't have ten blogs?
I'm speachless,
I'm honored,
I'm flattered,
I'm gonna go post 10 awards right now!
What an unexpected blessing! Thank you so much! I love reading the honesty, love, and laughter that pours out of you in your posts! I am honored that you even stop by my place! Thank you! Thank you!
Lots of love,
Kimberly
(Note: I am proud of you that your husband is still alive and in one piece.) :)
Thank you so much! I am honored and if I knew such an award existed, I would have been quick to send one to you as well! Your blog touches my heart every time I read it. What started out for me as a simple way of expressing my thoughts has been so much fun, and I am blessed that you are enjoying it. Thanks for walking along this journey with me, you are in my prayers!
Hi Lelia,
I found a link to your blog on Beth Thomas' blog and I am so glad. I briefly looked at your posts and found a clear connection to your heart and God. Be blessed.
Your sister-in-Christ from Toronto,
Sita
[my blog: Sita's Sanctum-you are welcome to drop by anytime!)
Aw, thank you, sweet friend! You bless me as well. Funny... about an hour before I got your email/comment, I had thought of you and prayed for your daughter. :)
Oh thank you so much for this award, Lelia; I am humbled. I'm really enjoying your postings. This one just really touched me. You have such a sweet spirit that obviously comes from a close walk with the Father. Really, you responded in an almost super-human way, because that had big potential for bitterness arising from hurt. You were able to see the big picture and know that your husband has no ill will toward you at all. And then to make a spiritual application--your humility is very touching, and I'm leaving here today changed. I'm totally sincere about that.
Don't you just love it when the hubby is so truthful?!?? Oh! My! Mine tries real hard NOT to answer me when he knows the answer will cause me to go into one of my tyrants....yet by his body language, I know what he's wanting to say yet won't... Bless his heart! How they love us!
Hey! Thank you so much! I went back and put your link in my post from yesterday the right way!
What a blesing you are!
Praying for you and your family today.
Love and Blessings,
Kimberly :)
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