Pet Peeves

 

Pet peeves is a term I became acquainted with when I was in Mrs. Cox’s third grade class.   One day when a fellow student was at the blackboard working on a math problem that same student scraped their fingernails across the blackboard.  Though Mrs. Cox was a person of calm demeanor, she was not cool and calm then as she quickly told the student and the entire class that the scraping of nails on a blackboard was one of her pet peeves.  

- If you are like most people, you probably have some pet peeves or small things that irritate you.   Here are a few pet peeves I have:

·        - The person in the store or other places that utters “no problem” when I tell them “thank you” for an act of customer service

·        - The person on Facebook or in an email that makes no effort to make sure what they write has correct spelling and grammar

·         -The individual that is constantly tapping their pen or pencil on a table or another object

I am trying to focus less on the small things that irritate me (my pet peeves) and more on the small things that bless me.   Part of what I am discovering is that there are more blessings than  irritations in my life.   Here are a few small blessings that I have been reminded of in recent days:

·        - The fact that most everyday my wife, children, or grandchildren tell me or show me that they love me

·        - The wonder of the wildlife (e.g. birds, rabbits, etc.)  I see outside my window most everyday even though I do not live in a rural area

·         -The fact that everyday when it comes to food my question is “what will I eat?” instead of “will I have something to eat?” 

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch watchmaker and Christian who helped many Jews escape the wrath of the Nazis in World War II.   In her book “The Hiding Place”, she writes about the time that she and her sister, Betsie, were in Nazi Concentration Camp and their barracks were infested with fleas.     As time went on, they began to thank God for the fleas because it meant that the Nazi soldiers did not bother them.  

Though I do not know your story, I know my story.   I can say with certainty that though there are little pet peeves that irritate me each day,  I can also say that I am mightily blessed in many ways each  day.  I invite you to make your list of the little blessings you know.   You know, little things do mean a lot.     Have a joy-filled week and God bless-  Pastor Randy Wall 

 

PRAYER:   Thank you, God, for the many small ways you bless me each and every day.   Give me a heart and spirit that sees it;  through Christ our Lord.   Amen.