Tuesday, September 13, 2011

When You Meet Mrs. Grump

We all know the feeling ... standing in line at the grocery store, kids in tow, and the lady in front of you has a hissy fit at the register. In times such as these, you double up kindness, thankful the kids are in sweetness mode as well.

We can whisper a breath blessing over them as they storm out of the store. And the same at the car speeding down the highway in a race no one can see. But what do I do when I look in the mirror and see her staring back at me? When I meet Mrs. Grump.

The mirror doesn't lie. Honest reflection reveals that I allow far too often the circumstances that surround to dictate my day, my emotions, my me. And Mrs. Grump snarls in my home.

I've decided I'm done with her. I am learning to be led by the Holy Spirit and not my emotions. After all, the fruit He produces, love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness ... leaves no room for grump. That's just it. The secret hidden for us to find, hidden in a living book that changes lives, changes mine letter by letter.

Each day, my choice. To be led by my emotions or to align them with His Word. True, I live in an emotion packed world. Yet I will no longer allow them to dictate my daily life. Mrs. Grump, Mrs. Frustrated, Mrs. (insert your own adjective) is emotional driven momma. No, I prefer the spirit led momma ...

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such thing there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

Spirit fruit tastes much better, just ask my family. It's the sweet stuff, dripping with goodness and giggles, filling my pantry, better yet ... filling my home.

24 comments:

Unknown said...

AMEN! My children like Mrs. Sweet FRUIT much better too. So does my precious husband. I don't like Mrs. Grump at all. Gosh, she sure seems to show up when I really don't need her to. She is always an uninvited guest. Too bad she is asked to leave as quickly as she arrives. I tend not to be a very nice hostess to her. Oh well, the Lord understands and He is then able to fill her place very nicely I might add. AHHHH!

Love you Mrs. Sweet Fruit!
Jill

Danae Hudson said...

This has been everywhere for me lately...these notes to no longer look towards emotions and towards the Spirit. Hmm...trying to listen! Practice, practice, practice.

Anonymous said...

We have 1 week til we break for 2 weeks ... I have seen the grump way too often... looking forward to a refreshing break. Lovely post.
xx

Nicole Watson said...

Super post! This is one area that God is still perfecting me in and on that I am painfully aware of. Making the choice to follow God, is so important. Thanks for posting this, I now feel like I have an ally in battle :)

Hezra said...

so true my friend! I hate when I see all the wrong fruit in my life. Sadly when I see it in the kids and realize I modeled it.... :-( But one of the best life lessons we can teach them ins repentance and humility and modeling the right way to turn our hearts back to spiritual things. Then we get the good fruit and they do too!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sara - I love this post. I have been a right royal Mrs Grump for the last while and like you say its a choice. I choose to no longer be led by my emotions, but to be led by His spirit. thanks for the reminder
God bless
Tracy

Anonymous said...

Very awesome! Such a amazing way to put....Love to learn from others as u walk through this wonderful journey!

Heather said...

Love this!

Heather

Glenda said...

Being changed letter by letter by the Living Word . . . love that, want that, seeking that!!

Anonymous said...

I am SO there. I call it having a "mom fit". Man, does it get ugly.

Kim said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday! Yours is quite encouraging especially this anti-Mrs.-Grump post! I too tell myself daily I'm putting an end to Mrs. Grump (yes I need to tell myself daily!) I love the term Spirit-led Mama and am going to use that frequently :) Thanks for letting me splash today...especially since it was 97 degrees here in Texas!

Debbie Dillon said...

Oh my goodness - how wonderful to meet you on my blog today! By all means, "splash" around, kick your shoes off, and please stay for a cup of coffee. You've done a beautiful job here with your blog. Love all the pics and the heart in your words. Be blessed, my new friend :) Debbie

Sharon said...

You know who all too often makes an appearance in MY house?? Mrs. Nervous Nellie Worrywart. And yes, she is driven by emotions.

I'm asking the Holy Spirit to overcome her anxious ways, and to bring the Peace of God into her heart in an ever more powerful way!

GOD BLESS!

Erin said...

Oh, Sarah! This is so good, darn it! I was so convicted reading your post (not condemned) that I'm really going to ck myself! I don't want to be Mrs. Grump looking back at me in the mirror.
:^D
Hugs,
~Erin

Ginny Hartzler said...

Nice to meet you, Sarah! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Your blog is both fun, beautiful, and profound. You are such a good writer that you speak Christian truths without making it preachy and keep it fun. I Love your header, and this picture is wonderful. Your boys are adorable!!

Marianne said...

This blogpost really spoke to me. I have been praying a lot lately for help in keeping angry momma away and God has been teaching me several lessons just this past week.
Now I also have a bible verse to go back to and pray around too.
Thank you.
And thank you for visiting my blog and for your kind words.

Michael Ann said...

Hi Sarah,
Thank you for leaving such a thoughtful comment on my blog today! And thank you for splashing around there. :-) You have a lovely blog here. I was amazed to see that we touched on a similar theme in our posts--not letting out emotions rule us. Emotions are part of life and make us human, but we must not let them take us over to where we are not behaving appropriately. This must be a theme God wants us and our readers to really concentrate on right now!

God Bless,
Michael Ann
Thinkging in My Head

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by and splashing around a bit...It is nice to meet you too...your family is adorable. I love your post...I too am leaving Mrs. grump behind...I only wish I would have dumped her when my kids were young.
Blessings~

Amy said...

I think you must have peeked into my life and written this post. This can be such a struggle for me. When I am Mrs. Grump my whole family has a case of the grumps. When I pull out happy Momma they follow in turn. I certainly need to obey the Holy Spirit more. Thanks for the unintentional but needed loving rebuke ;D

Nikole Hahn said...

Sometimes, Mrs. Grump hangs around my house, too. Luckily, she vacates the premises soon after hope bubbles up.

Darlene said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I am now splahing with you! You have written a beautiful post in a loving way. I'm looking forward to doing a lot of splashing with you!

Jennifer@GDWJ said...

Spirit Fruit is by far THE tastiest. :) Taste and see that the Lord is good.

~Kristin~ said...

Sara~
Beautiful blog.
Beautiful family.
Beautiful spirit....
Love, Kristin

Anonymous said...

This is something I often struggle with too! Great post!
God Bless,
Brandi