It's a beautiful day

The Princess said that to me Saturday night as she was getting her pj's on after bath time.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it Momma?"

I tried to suppress the groan I could feel welling up and from spouting all the reasons why, No in fact it has not been a beautiful day!
We had watched two soccer games in the FREEZING wind and Snow! Snow, I'm so tired of it, and of stepping outside and freezing.
But, instead of going into that tirade, I asked her, 'Why do you think it's a beautiful day?'.
Her answers sucked the air right out of me.

"Because I got to spend it with you and the boys(her brothers) and Mimi and Poppie."

After stories and bed time prayers and being securely tucked in for sweet dreams, I couldn't get her words out of my head.

Her being thankful for the beautiful day had nothing to do with her physical surroundings but the people she was with and the love she felt.
That's quite the perspective from a little person.
And so convicting to me.

Stop complaining! Was shouting in my head!
Enjoy the way things are not always wishing for them to be different.

Snow comes, it isn't always warm outside, Monday arrives every week right on schedule.
Kids get sick, clothes get dirty, beds need made and bathrooms need cleaned.

Do I take the time to complain about each thing? Or am I thankful?
I think sometimes when I find myself in the deep and difficult trials of life I find my self more thankful than when I'm in the day to day routine of life.
Let's face it our to-do lists can wear us down.
The cold and yuck outside can be grating after awhile.
So do I focus on that? Or do I take the time to find the beauty in the day in those I love and get to spend time with-even if it's freezing our toes off at soccer games in the snow?

I want my precious girl to always have her sweet spirit and not lose what is inside her that helps her find beauty where others don't. That means sometimes her Momma's going to need to be quiet.

It's Monday, at the end of March and there is snow on the ground. I get to spend it taking care of the things that the people I love the most need.
Isn't it a beautiful day?

Psalm 100:1-3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us and we are his, we are his people the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.