Always an Opportunity *

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 NLT

"Consider it an opportunity for great joy" was NOT the first thought in my head when earlier today, I spilled an entire bowl of steaming potato soup down the front of myself and down the right side of my desk (drawer side) and ultimately, all over the floor. As if that mess was not enough, it was compounded by the fact that I'm recovering from a full hip replacement and cannot kneel down, nor bend more than a 90° angle. I was both angry and frustrated. Yes, I could have called one of several people, but in the heat of the moment... no pun intended. It was the third challenge of the day and only midday.

It was about 10 minutes of trying to figure out how I was going to clean it up before this Scripture in James made its way into a conscious thought. My first response was, "Seriously?!? I'm having a hard time seeing this as an opportunity for great joy." But within seconds, I began to see and acknowledge that there were MANY opportunities for joy.

• This morning, it was a little chilly here (and being a Texas girl, I was not thankful for that initially), but because it was chilly, I was wearing sweatpants, so I was not burned by the soup. 
• All the desk drawers were closed and no soup got in my papers.
• It was thick potato soup and not Tex-Mex Potato Soup, so it didn't flow too far.
• Because it was thick, I was able to sweep a lot of it into a dust pan, discovering that I have developed some real skill in using the "Grip & Grab" tool to finagle the dust pan into the dry bucket, and being able to grip the paper towels, etc.
• I'm thankful for Swiffer© products that I had in stock to clean it well.
• I'm even thankful for the generic brand refills that didn't work before, but worked well today to actually dry the floor so I wouldn't slip and fall - even down to being thin enough to slide under the desk to remove any minute traces of spillage.
• And last, but certainly not least - There was more potato soup. (smiling!)

At first, all I could see was what was wrong and what I couldn't do, but in my mind's eye, I flashed back to my son asking me, "Does your eyebrow hurt?"

I know - in the big scheme of life and all that is going on in the world today, what's a spilled bowl of soup? For me, it was an opportunity to acknowledge God's hand of provision and protection in everything. An opportunity to give thanks in every situation. An opportunity for great joy - For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. And an opportunity for me to encourage you that there is ALWAYS an opportunity to give thanks in all things. 
(1st Thessalonians 5:18)

Prayer:

Father, 
         As You well know, oftentimes, it can be the little things in life that derail us. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us into all truth. Thank You for loving us so much. Help us to see only what YOU want us to see. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen