It’s a raining rain

The past two weeks have been challenging and stressful. Recently, my husband’s company changed its e-mail protocol and, to be compatible, he had to purchase and install new Microsoft Office software. There was one hurdle after another, and he spent most of Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the first week overcoming them, much of that time in phone conversations with Microsoft’s technical support people.

We had planned to take the four days following Labor Day as vacation but, when he discovered on Monday—Labor Day—that the out-of-office reply function wasn’t working properly, he spent a portion of that day trying to resolve the issue. Since the previous week’s computer problems had already set him back in what he hoped to accomplish, he decided to use the rest of his vacation to catch up on the backlog.

He made progress Tuesday and Wednesday but, on Thursday morning, discovered we had lost Internet access. After spending more time on the phone with tech people, he learned that the cause of the problem was the computer’s router, so we spent part of the day driving to a nearby town to purchase a replacement. With the new router installed, Friday was a successful workday. Nice vacation!

One day this week, a song my mother used to sing to me, usually when it was raining, came to mind. It occurred to me that its lyrics have more meaning than I previously realized; that they applied, perhaps, to our present frustrations:

What’s the use of my complaining when it’s raining, raining, raining?
God has sent the rain, so let it be, he knows what is best for you and me.
It's a raining rain, it's a raining rain, hear it patter on the windowpane.
It’s a raining rain, it’s a raining rain, and it will never rain the same rain again.

The Bible tells us that God works all things together for the good of those who love and follow him (Romans 8:28). So, why should I get uptight and anxious when things don’t go my way? No need to complain. I just need to relax, sit back and let it rain, because God has everything under control.

Funny how things change. When I was a young girl and my mother sang that song to me on a rainy day, it sometimes annoyed me. This week, the song brought peace and comfort.


Copyright © 2010

Eating worms

 Sitting on the floor, off by myself in a corner of the room, I sang:

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me,

I think I'll go eat worms! Big fat juicy ones,

Ensie weensy squeensy ones,

See how they wiggle and squirm!

A dark cloud was encompassing me and I was in a foul mood. I don’t recall the circumstances that triggered my funk but I knew my sour attitude was wrong, even though I was just a young girl. During my growing-up years, I would occasionally surrender to debilitating bouts of negativity. Wallowing in despondency, I willingly listened to Satan’s discouraging lies.

As an adult, I am sometimes tempted to return to that state, but I know it’s a place I don’t want to go. When I am assailed with such thoughts, I often rehearse the following in my mind: Satan is defeated. The victory has been won. “Thanks be to God who always causes [me] to triumph” (2 Cor. 2:14, NIV).

I have learned that, with God’s help, I can fight the demon of self-pity by clothing myself in a “garment of praise” that lifts my “spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3). I can let the peace of Christ rule in my heart and practice thankfulness by singing with gratitude “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:15-16).

On my desk is a motto that says, “Attitude is everything.” It reminds me that, whatever is happening in my life, I can choose my attitude. Instead of singing about eating worms, I renew my spirit by singing praises to God! As Jeff and Sheri Easter sing, “Jesus is with me, so I’ll claim the victory, over and over again.”


Copyright © 2010