Ouch! Need some ice to go with that burn?

Grumble grumble grumble. My teenager makes me grumble from time to time. Bite your tongue. Don't yell. Stay patient. This morning was especially trying when I came downstairs to an ant party in my kitchen. We've been struggling with ants for the last month, just like most households in the southern hemisphere this time of year. Last night Sam had a brilliant idea to create his own varieties of custom soda. (Perhaps he's frustrated I won't buy him the Soda Stream.) So last night he made some super sweet, delightful concoctions with a surplus of fructose and grenadine syrup. I'll admit, the soda flavors were very yummy, but like me he's very good at the project part, but not the clean-up part of the activity. As soon as we turned the lights out for the night, the ants discovered the sweet aftermath of his experiment and told all their buddies in our zip code that our house was the place to be.

Grumble grumble grumble. The negative thoughts filled my head as I was clearing off the counter and preparing to go to battle with my ant foes. In perfect God timing, this verse came to mind, "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him" (1Sam1:27). Ouch! Need some ice to go with that burn? 1Samuel is the passage that inspired me fifteen years ago as a 20 something newlywed longing to be a mom. This is the passage that spoke to me as the Holy Spirt woke me in the middle of the night all those years ago and led me to kneel on the floor of our designated nursery after another unfruitful month. This is the passage that Sam, my creative and brilliant patience-testing 13 y.o., is named after. The cliché, "Be careful what you what wish for" is so appropriate here, for sure. I don't think I really had any clue what I wished for when I prayed for kids, but I am so thankful for all of my kids, even my teenager! ;) Thank you, Lord, for a good reminder of your blessings and answered prayers. Help me turn my grumblings into gratitude.