On Attitudes

I have been super grouchy lately. Not to the point where I'm nasty to be around (though you'd have to ask Pat to be sure), but just where I'm scowly and grumbly.

For example, our retreat committee met yesterday to do some assembly for the craft. Basically, we needed to put all the pices together in a Ziplock bag so when the women at the retreat want to do their craft everything they need is already together. Now, if you don't know me you might not be aware of my 'quirks.' One of these quirks is my utter lack of craftiness. I am terrible at anything craft-related! Not only that, but I just don't enjoy it. (Give me a bunch of walls to paint and I'm in my glory, but DO NOT ask me to create a lovely handicraft!) I digress... Anyway, we're there to work and to fellowship, so you'd think I could deal. Nope. Hated it. So un-fun. The worst part is, though, that this 'hated it' attitude was written all over my face for 4 hours!

I know in my heart that, in spite of the unpleasantness of the task, I could have chosen to enjoy my time with 9 totally great women. I could have taken joy in the throng of children in and out of the room, rather than feeling irritable about how rambunctious they were. I could have done the work with a song in my heart and a smile on my face. But I didn't. What's even worse is that I am noticing this attitude issue cropping up all over the place.

Maybe I need more sleep (after all, waking up 4 times each night is probably not quite what my body needs). Maybe I need Christine (my BFF who is working full-time for a few months...we normally talk about everything several times a day, now we talk about nothing once a week). Normally, I'm a fairly optimistic gal; I like to encourage others to see the good in things. I don't really know where all this crabbiness is coming from, but that's not really important. I need to figure out how to change it!

So I was thinking, what would I do (if I were feeling inspired and creative) to help my children learn about having a good attitude? Ah-ha! The answers to all life's questions can be found in one precious Book... Here's one little tidbit of God's advice to me on attitudes:

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
I really like how the Message puts it...
Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work. [or a bad attitude]

Here's where you, my reader-friends come in. I need help! I seem to be having some difficulty finding more Scripture about changing my attitude. So I need you to please comment and leave me some more verses!