A Bad Attitude.
We typically attach this idea of a bad attitude to children. They are the ones who cop an attitude when something's not fair or throw a temper tantrum when they don't get their way. Juvenile delinquents get pegged with this label more than not.
My mom used to say, "We need to have an attitude of gratitude." We used to call her a sermon in shoes. She would come out with these little phrases like it was her job, and looking back, it was. "Jesus is the reason for the season." "Delayed obedience is disobedience." And so on and so forth. She was a stickler when it came to attitude. "You need an attitude adjustment", she would say. "Change your attitude, young man" she exclaimed. Attitude was more important than actions, because it was the wellspring of what was really in the heart.
I've learned that attitude isn't just a kid thing. It's a human thing and it doesn't get any easier to have a good one with the accumulation of years. It takes militant discipline to keep your attitude in check.
There are days when I want to just go off. Something that should have taken 10 minutes takes 2 hours. Someone that should know better didn't appropriate the "better" that they knew. A car repair that was supposed to cost $80 instead breaks the bank for $230. Your kids won't stop talking to each other in cutting tones. These little things can cause a stress fracture (compound fracture).
I'm learning that it is important to "put on" Christ. There is no way to overcome a cruddy attitude without "clothing yourself with Christ". His attitude, His mind, His perspective. He is the only shot you and I have at really being different than we are. His Word becomes our "garment of praise". His truth becomes our "cloak of character". His fruit grows on our tree, instead of our rotten fruit, our rotten attitudes.
Are you sick of being rotten? Me too.
My mom used to say, "We need to have an attitude of gratitude." We used to call her a sermon in shoes. She would come out with these little phrases like it was her job, and looking back, it was. "Jesus is the reason for the season." "Delayed obedience is disobedience." And so on and so forth. She was a stickler when it came to attitude. "You need an attitude adjustment", she would say. "Change your attitude, young man" she exclaimed. Attitude was more important than actions, because it was the wellspring of what was really in the heart.
I've learned that attitude isn't just a kid thing. It's a human thing and it doesn't get any easier to have a good one with the accumulation of years. It takes militant discipline to keep your attitude in check.
There are days when I want to just go off. Something that should have taken 10 minutes takes 2 hours. Someone that should know better didn't appropriate the "better" that they knew. A car repair that was supposed to cost $80 instead breaks the bank for $230. Your kids won't stop talking to each other in cutting tones. These little things can cause a stress fracture (compound fracture).
I'm learning that it is important to "put on" Christ. There is no way to overcome a cruddy attitude without "clothing yourself with Christ". His attitude, His mind, His perspective. He is the only shot you and I have at really being different than we are. His Word becomes our "garment of praise". His truth becomes our "cloak of character". His fruit grows on our tree, instead of our rotten fruit, our rotten attitudes.
Are you sick of being rotten? Me too.
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