A Brainwashed Parent/Wife

I'm having a hard time focusing on what needs to be done right now. I'm finding myself distracted by little cleaning/organizing projects. I know exactly what is going on in my head - I'm trying to gain control, no matter how small. Why? Because I can't control the big things. I can't control the economy and how it's affecting us, I can't control my husband and for sure can't control my kids. So cleaning and organizing a couple of dresser drawers feels great right now. Although I know it's not the answer.

What I do know is that what goes in comes out, of my head that is. If I fill it with all the negatives that are going on right now, with all the self-induced feelings of depravity that I'm feeling from our budget cuts, with all the "I deserve's" that are running through my head on a daily basis now-I'm going to feel rotten and act like a jerk.

Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." And man — there are SO many things I that are worthy of praise in my life, but because of the place I've been stuck I've been dwelling on the things that I have been lacking.

This is where brainwashing needs to happen for me. Instead of organizing drawers, I need to be in His Word, spend time practicing gratitude and focusing on God's promises for me. Along with that, not spending so much time absorbed in the newest CB2 catalog or shopping blogs I frequent on a regular basis — these habits surely do not help my feelings of depravity.

Is there an area of your life where you need some brainwashing? If so, what does that look like for you?

-Jill Peel