Have you ever opened your eyes and started your day with a new attitude – all sparkly and happy?  Then, not thirty minutes into your day, someone comes in and messes up your Sparkly.

 

You know, I could really be a better Christian and happy person, if only I did not have to deal with people! It’s like trying to Sparkle through Cold Water.

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Honestly!

 

I have been a Christian from birth – Christened as an infant, went to church most every Sunday, confirmed at thirteen, re-baptized at twenty-one, Bible teacher, Christian speaker, Christian author.  I am the cookie-cutter shaped Christian woman.

 

Yes, I have had some unpleasant paths because of my poor choices. But, all in all, I have always tried to do the right thing.

 

The Prodigal God is a book written by Timothy Keller that I have been reading lately.  In it, he talks about the Prodigal Son, in Luke 15:11-32.

 

I have read that story many times, and I have admired the Elder Son.  He stayed, he worked hard – he is what every child should grow up to be!

 

But, Timothy brings to light some points that I have never noticed before.

 

The Elder son was doing what was right, as a means to an end.  Not because his heart was so good, but because he wanted something.

 

He did what was right to get approval, and to be in a better position.  When things did not go his way, he became angry, disrespectful, and then, passive-aggressive.

 

Suddenly, my eyes were open.  I have traits like the elder son. We all do, to a certain extent.

 

We do what is right, with the expectation of others responding the way we would like for them to respond.  And, if they don’t respond in a way that achieves what we would like, then we become angry, frustrated, critical, perhaps even insulting.

 

Here is where I find one more area of my life that is in need of surrendering to the Lord.

 

I am like the kid who says, they have emptied their pockets; then, one by one, more rocks, and crayons, and sticks, and unidentified objects, are placed on the table.

 

Yes, I have been a Christian all of my life, trying to do what is right.  But there is a lifetime of things that I have held in my pocket and not surrendered.

 

But, it is when someone puts water on my sparkly and I fizzle out, that I realize that perhaps there are some things in my pockets that I have not yet surrendered. Maybe, my whole life has not been surrendered to Him.

 

Maybe I’m still holding on to little things that dirty me up, and calling them “mine”.  Until I give it all to Him, it is difficult to keep my sparkle going full-time.

 

Realizing that a good attitude, and Joy, cannot be maintained in our own strength is an important fact to know in the Christian walk.

 

Joy, and a good attitude (aka – My sparkly) come from the Lord.  And they last, when we open our hand and release the sticks and rocks that we think are our reward.

 

God is the rewarder of those who come to Him in faith, but the greatest reward is Christ.

 

We do what is right, because it is right.  We keep our eyes on Christ, not the material reward.  Then, when any reward comes our way, the delight is so much greater.  It is greater, because we were not expecting…demanding…manipulating the outcome.

 

So, today, I surrender my sparkly to God. Only He can maintain its beauty long-term.

 

Are there any rocks or sticks in your pockets that God needs to exchange for something beautiful?  Has anyone messed up your sparkly? How can I pray for you today?

 

P. S. The Photos, though bearing my logo, were taken by Doc!

 

Linking today with A Holy Experience, The WellSpring, Gracefulj, and Just Write

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Diane W. Bailey is the founder of The Consilium – an online community of wisdom and purpose for women over 45 years of age. She is a published author. Her books include String of Pearls – From Tears to Treasure, and 30 Days To A Better Stepfamily. She creates her own line of precious metals bracelets. Diane lives in the Deep South with her husband Doc. Together they have created a stepfamily, each having two stepchildren and two birth children, and share three grandchildren, one black lab named Charlie and one long haired tabby cat named Lil Girl. Diane’s passion is to encourage women to be all God has created them to be by pressing past fear and daring to live life as an adventure. Some of her life adventures include traveling to Israel, speaking, entrepreneurship and backyard farming with Doc. She loves Gumbo, fried shrimp and seeing all sunsets across water.

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