A Glass Half Full

"So Daddy, how's it look? All healed up good?" my niece, Hope, looks up at her Dad as he cares for her still healing cosmetic ear.

"Not yet." My sister and brother-in-law chime in unison.

Hope has gone through multiple procedures over the past 5 months. All in efforts to form ears for her. The first round of surgeries went well. Her body accepted the first cosmetic ear without any problems. But, this second ear ... not so well. After the initial implant of cartilage from her ribs, there was need for a skin graph and now ... there is another hole in the skin.

For my sister and her husband, this is tough. As parents they want to tell Hope all is well, things are great and healing is going perfect. But, to tell Hope that would be a lie. Her life will be filled with medical procedures and health care due to her Treacher Collins. Facts are important. And ... the fact is ... this ear might not "keep" ... her body might reject this implant.

So, in the quiet of the evening while most parents are tucking their children in after a bedtime story ... Hope's parents are lovingly giving "facts". They tell her what's happening in a way that makes sense for her little mind. And ... then they ask how she will feel if this ear doesn't work. Most people would wonder about asking when it should be obvious how Hope will feel. But, this is the magic of their family. They communicate in this way ... this way that opens doors for conversation that might otherwise be really hard.

"That's ok. I got one ear that's pretty. If God decides not to let me keep this ear, that's ok." Hope smiles.

In the moment my sister shared this story with me ... I felt completely defeated. Defeated by my own ungrateful attitude. In that moment, Hope taught me something. I've been viewing my glass as half empty instead of being grateful that it's really half full.

Hope is ready to accept God's will for her life. At a young age, she has found gratitude for the small miracles. She is, as her mom put it ... "Always a glass half full kind of girl."

That's what I need to be ... glass half full.

My husband was laid off from his job in February of 2009. In November of 2009, he found part time employment that pays half what he made each hour at his factory job. No benefits due to part time employment. Needless to say, we've been struggling financially. But, to be honest, I'm able to handle the financial struggle pretty well ... it's the emotional side of it that hits me hardest.

Anyone who knows me knows I would love to be a "stay at home mommy". So, my husband getting to fill the shoes I've always wanted to wear ... that's been tough for me to accept. He's home with the boys while I'm at work full time.

I've spent a good deal of time grumbling to God. Grumbling about Him letting Jerry have what I want. I have told myself lots of times that this is a "bad attitude" and an ungrateful attitude. I have a great job. A job other people would love. One that comes with benefits and with an employer that respects family time. I should be thankful for this job. But, I keep coming back to ... what I want. I keep seeing my glass as half empty.

This morning, as my sister told me about Hope's acceptance ... I realized I could learn a lot from Hope. I need to accept God knows what's best for me and my family. I need to be ready for whatever He has planned. While I'm waiting to find out what's going to happen next ... I need to have joy in the small miracles.

Do you ever find yourself with a glass half empty? Are you struggling to accept God's will in your life?

Is your glass half full ... or half empty? Today, mine is half full ... maybe if I look close enough I'll find that my glass is overflowing with blessings.

Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."