I lost our copy of our 2009 federal taxes. We need it. By next week. And I can not find it.

A little plastic thingy on the fridge falls off every time Abby walks by it and slides her little hands along the front.

The big pine tree in our yard sheds needles everywhere and they stick to our shoes and find their way into the house, up the steps, and in the carpet.

Annalise cries when it is time to write more than a one word sentence.

The bathroom tub needs the drain cleaned.

Grocery shopping with 3 kids is not a picnic.

I could go on and on and on. So could you.

Life is full of little annoying, very unfun things that drive us crazy.

What do we do with those things when we are supposed to be enjoying the journey?

I heard a song on the radio the other day. It is a new song by Francesca Battistelli called, "This is the Stuff."

It is an amazing song because it is so real.



We can make lists all day long of all the things we are thankful for, lists of the wonderful, happy moments but it doesn't negate the fact that bothersome, unfair, frustrating things happen.

Again, what do we do with those things?

We certainly don't want to make blog posts with lists of negative things! Of course not!

In fact, I LOVE Ann Voskamp's new book and the idea of recording the little and precious things of your day so that you can fully live in the moment, right where God has you.

But this song encourages us to acknowledge the annoying moments. The bothersome events and unfair happenings. Acknowledge them and let God USE them. Let God help us see with an eternal perspective. To see that He is working not just in the now but in the eternity of our hearts and of those around us.

Allow Him to use the frustrating, annoying moments to teach us patience. To grow maturity in our hearts. To refine us into His likeness.

So, that in the middle of our little messes, we don't forget how big we are blessed. Blessed with a God who redeems the difficult slices in our days and uses them for something good. Something bigger than this moment. Something eternal.

A small challenge: record the not-so-nice parts of your days. Make a list of things that get under your skin or have been getting to you lately. What is God teaching you? What do those things say about your heart? Now, give that list to God and ask Him what He wants to do in you through those situations.

I promise that if you offer your list to God, He will USE it for His glory!



You can learn more about Jenilee on her Meet Me page or find her tweeting about her day on twitter.