I'll Have What She's Having

1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18 Rejoice always. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Long before Larry the Cucumber from Veggie Tales, I have been the queen of silly songs. Ever since the first of my four beauties slid into my arms, my heart has been inspired to compose quirky little songs that I sing just for them.

When Carynne (now 4) was just old enough to walk, we were toddling out of church to the backdrop of a cloudless Texas sky as I sang the "Rynnie Roo" to the top of her blond curls. Unbeknownst to me, another toddler named Corinne was walking with her mommy nearby. She looked up at her with pleading eyes that would melt any mommy's heart and asked, "Mommy, would you sing the Rynnie Roo song to me?"

This morning's reading is the 15th Chapter of Revelation. On this trip through Revelation I have noted one consistent theme in every chapter. In heaven, God is praised. Here on earth, all too often, I stop praising and complain and cease give thanks and grumble.

Taking my eyes off Jesus is the source of my discontent and envy is my most common accelerant. That day in the parking lot little Corinne was actually saying, "I want what she's having." She saw a mommy singing silly songs to her daughter. She wanted that for herself. What she didn't know that day was that my voice is better suited for the shower than the parking lot while her own mother's voice is a symphony of beauty. Some day my Carynne will look across the parking lot while I'm singing, dancing or generally embarrassing her and see Corinne's mom acting refined and restrained and say to herself, "I want what she's having."

I fail to praise Jesus because I'm too busy looking at someone else's giftings, circumstances or even perhaps finances to look up and see the symphony of beauty God is showering down on me.

Jesus, today I'm going to read off of my own menu and stop letting my eyes wander over to the next table. When my eyes are busy noticing all the ways You are working in my life and my family, I count my blessings. My heart bursts with praise and gratitude. Today I will open my eyes to praise You with my mouth.