6 Jan, 2011
I Met Grumpy at Disney!
My family left the day after Christmas from the North Country of New York (yes, Virginia, there is life above Upstate New York!) and headed to Florida for a vacation at Disney World. Our children (10 and 6) had been talking, planning, and counting down the days & hours of our arrival to see Mickey and Minnie.
I got to meet Grumpy at the Magic Kingdom. Not the actual dwarf Grumpy, but a young girl who complained about the long lines, the heat, the bus ride to the hotel, and the actual hotel. She didn’t seem satisfied with anything about her trip. It seemed she was putting a lot of work into her complaining.
Following our stay at Disney World, our family attended a conference where I met up with Happy. This time the character was my friend, David Duncan, who travels nationwide speaking. Through life's darkest moments and dealing with the daily struggles of mundane survival, David's personal testimony is found in Nehemiah 8:10 (the joy of the Lord is my strength). His effervescent spirit reminds us all that when you have the abundant life as spoken by Jesus in John 10:10 that it is "everlasting" and "ever-laughing".
David, shown on right with his wife Shirley, is a double transplant recipient AND a double amputee, but he doesn’t complaining but finds the humor in his daily life. He let children’s Sunday School class he teaches pick his prosthetic legs. The boys, hands down, chose Sponge Bob Square Pants. The girls all voted for pink Barbie. He got them to agree to a purple cast with monkeys and bananas (he’s known as Rev. Monkey!). David has gone bananas!
But more importantly, he gives God all the glory for bringing him up out of the pit and setting his (fake) feet upon a Rock (Psalm 40)! David’s life is an encouragement to experience the healing ministry of a merry heart! (Proverb 17:22)
Two people. Two totally different outlooks on life. One major difference!
Clipart courtesy of googleimages.com
John 16: 33 (NIV)
33b “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Yes, we’re going to have bad days. There will be things in our life that are not pleasant. But we aren’t defeated! We can still glorify God in all of our life circumstances.
Can you life (or attitude) be summed up easily through a fairy tale character? If someone were to meet you for just a few minutes, what impression would you make?
How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others?
It’s so easy to complain. And so hard to stop once we start. You may have a reason to be grumpy, but is that putting your faith in God? How can you best shine God’s Light in your life and into the lives of others?
This week, do an attitude check. Ask God to help you be alert to your emotions and your complaining.
Enjoy life to its’ fullest, even on those bad days. We all have them. Share the love of Jesus to others through a smile, a laugh, or an encouraging word.
Go bananas! If you’re happy and you know it……
- May 2012 [14]
- April 2012 [19]
- March 2012 [21]
- February 2012 [19]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [20]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
