TGIM! — a weekly writing challenge

Last year I posted this as a reminder not to join the “I hate Mondays” bandwagon. Now I’m starting this weekly “Thank God, It’s Monday!” writing event to encourage merry, grateful thoughts to get the week started. So this is how it’s going to work: Every Monday I will publish a TGIM post and invite you to do the same–write about a TGIM insight or experience–on your respective blogs/social media accounts. You may share a link to your post at the comments section; then, on my next Monday’s post, I will include the links that you shared so that we can all encourage one another with our happy vibes! Sounds good?

Here’s my post for this week:

I have to start my story by sharing what happened yesterday. I woke up feeling more tired and out of sorts than usual, and was quick to attribute my temperament to burnout. As we prepared for church I found myself ranting to my husband and ranting some more to myself — quite a bit of internal screaming going on there for about an hour. Then I went online to “comply” with the Bible passage challenge I had taken on. The first thing I could think of was Psalm 23, so I posted it there and then continued being in a sour disposition.

I knew I could not just say I was burned out and let that be my excuse for entertaining unhealthy thoughts and manifesting ill behavior. So before leaving the house, I recited Psalm 23 to myself and prayed for help. Still I remained irritable on the way to church, but I was aware of it so I kept praying to control myself. When we arrived, among the first people I saw was our godson who had just come from a retreat. He was so on fire for the Lord, eagerly sharing what he went through, and I was moved almost to tears. I knew God was sending me a message. He was encouraging me through this child.

Not long after, during praise and worship, I noticed another young person singing with such abandon. He was a special child, the same age or maybe a bit older than our godson, and he manifested such pure joy in singing to the Lord. Encouragement number 2.

That morning it became somehow clear to me that if anything could be faulted for my feeling burned out, it was my own neglect of my time with my Lord. I had been fumbling with a lot of things for the last couple of weeks, but it was only because I had been disconnecting from my power source. As I repented and thanked God for that realization, I felt my heart’s load being lifted. I was much, much more than A-OK for the rest of the day.

Today, from the moment I woke up it was plain to me that I would have a great day, by God’s grace. You know how one of two things usually fill your head first thing in the morning–either a long to-do list or the urge to go on auto-pilot, pick up your phone and start scrolling down your Facebook newsfeed? I had both thoughts, but I thank God that He was quick to remind me to put the real first things first. He replaced images of work and Facebook with a song, allowed me to enjoy breakfast with my husband, and made sure that He and I would have a good conversation before I even get started with tasks and diversions.

Right now the day’s halfway through. I’ve already been quite productive, and I’m feeling light-hearted. I still have a great deal of work to do while also attending to my family, but all is well, thanks to my Helper.

————————— Your turn! Publish your own TGIM post and share your link in the “Comments” section below 🙂 Looking forward to reading!