No Excuse Really

  Monday morning found me a whining monster. Tuesday found me a happy camper. This morning again found me a whining monster, but after 10 o'clock I was a happy camper. Monday and Tuesday I blamed my attitude on the weather. Monday being miserably cold and Tuesday being warm and sunny. Today was warm and sunny, today I had no reason to take on the title of Oscar the Grouch. I had no excuse to be Oscar the Grouch on Monday either for that matter.
  As I have said before, feelings are fleeting. They come and go without rhyme or reason. Often though, I let them affect me more than I try and affect them. I cannot control the weather, or the actions of others, or even my own hormones. I do, however, have a choice about how I respond to my circumstances. What is more, is that, as a Christian, I have a responsibility to live a life of joy and of gratitude and of selflessness. In I Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul addresses the Thessalonian church with these words, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
  When I give into my grouchiness, it is often because I am inconvenienced. Other times it is because I am plain selfish and others do not adhere to my will. Then at other times, it is because I am not grateful for the bountiful gifts given me. To give into my sinful nature and lash out against those around me may be the easy thing, but it is wrong. And as a Christian, I am given the choice to act against my selfish nature.
  On my own, I would be an eternal Oscar the Grouch, but by the grace of God, I can live as His child. I can love others when I do not want to love. I can be thankful when I would naturally want more. I have no excuse to be a whiny grouchy person, and because of the love of Christ Jesus I do not have to be.