Grateful for a Second Chance

So, this morning kinda stunk.

I didn’t set my alarms right last night, so I woke up at 8:42 for my 9:00 class… and I normally leave for it around 8:47. So, stress. And speed get ready. And panic attack.

And I completely snapped at my sweet roomie, who was in the process of asking me if I wanted her to fix me a bagel… So then I felt awful , on top of rushed and stress and panic.
And as I was grabbing my phone and stuffing in in my wristlet, I saw Roomie had sent me a text after I snapped at her, before I could apologize, saying “Good morning! You are beautiful and I am so glad to have you as my roommate. *Hearts*”

I could have cried.

I sprinted down the stairs and out the door of my dorm. My best friend was also running late to class, so we hurried towards our respective buildings together, grumbling about how we had both slept too late.

Then in my Biology class, we were learning about worms. And parasitic worms who infest in humans. With pictures.

Beautiful.
And, important fact about me: worms and caterpillars and centipedes– anything of that sort– COMPLETELY terrify me. Most everything else I can handle, but worms? Heck no.

So class wasn’t great.

Today as a whole hasn’t been fantastic. The morning set me off in a bad mood, despite my sweet roomie and getting to see my BFF.

And, in the back of my mind, I knew I was going to come back after class and write this Grateful Heart Monday post. And I was irritated at the thought. I did NOT want to be grateful. Can I just sulk and be in a bad mood all day?

Sigh.

But sulking and being in a bad mood all day would be a choice. A prison of bitterness to which I really don’t want to be captive.

A long time ago, when my brother was in elementary school, his class sang a song with the words from Philippians 2:14-15. And the song is really catchy, so when ever I’m complaining or in a really bad mood, the song pops in my head, reminding me not to complain.

And, then I thought about when Paul taught the Thessalonians to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

I think giving thanks in all circumstances is super duper hard. I kinda understand why we should give thanks in the hard times… at which I still really fail. But in the little stressful moments, those are also really hard situations to give thanks in. I forget to be thankful in the pressure of the moment.

After all, why would I be thankful that I woke up super late, and was rushed and stressed and snappy?

But maybe, just maybe, if I had thanked God that I was alive- that I had woken up at all- my morning would be different. Maybe I wouldn’t have felt so much stress.

I can’t go back to this morning and change what happened. I can’t make sure I have my phone on the right setting so my alarms will wake me up, nor can I erase my hasty words towards my roommate. But I can set my alarms tomorrow. And I can seek forgiveness.

So, today I am grateful that “because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23, emphasis added).
I am grateful for a second chance.

*This post was linked up to Grateful Heart Monday.

Posted by Kara Beth & filed under Devotionals. This post has one comment.