My Thankful Thoughts

It’s Monday morning. As I lay here next to my sleeping beauty,  I’m thinking about how thankful I am for the time off from work we have this holiday season. I’m ESPECIALLY thankful that Oliver has this time off.  This man works hard for us, his family,  every day of the year – literally.  Seven days a week. He is the hardest working, most selfless man I know. But as I look at him, I also think of God. I’ve said it time & again…I’m CERTAIN a big reason God told me to marry him was to show me the flaws in my own character…although I wouldn’t realize this until years later.
I am sometimes an antsy, impatient person. Oliver? Not so much.  His even-keel personality blankets my anxiety any day of the year…which in turn makes me think of God & His steady faithfulness towards me in every situation. “Ok, calm down.  All is well & all will be well.” That’s usually the message that God intended me to get, using Oliver as the vessel. Then there’s my selfishness. BOY, can I be selfish sometimes! God knows this, and doesn’t like that in me lol.  So He reveals it to me – yep, you guessed it – through Oliver. Scenarios seem to arise between us that would not and could not arise between me and anyone else.  And in the quietness of those scenarios, when Oliver has left me and my selfishness to ourselves, God’s still, small voice is heard, “Go make things right with that man; it’s not all about you; not this time.” Sometimes I obey. Other times, Oliver will patiently & selflessly use strategies to woo me back to him – when I should be the one working my way back to HIM! Wow..God is like that with me too. If THAT doesn’t reveal the selfishness in me, I don’t know what will.
Look at God, using the person I’m closest to on this earth to show me about myself. Sometimes I’m irritated by that; maybe even embarrassed. But I know it’s necessary for my spiritual growth & character building.
So above all, this holiday season is the time to thank God for the birth of His only begotten – our Savior. Jesus.  And I’m also thanking God for sending me the Chocolate Butter of a husband, whom He uses to clean my character & fix me up. Part of my sanctification process. Needed so that Jesus can do in me what he was so selflessly sent here to do. Save me.

Happy holidays!

-Denise