Character Building

My co-worker Hannah shared with me the other day that she had heard a message at church where the minister called daily frustrations or set-backs as Character Building opportunities. We laughed about it and I thought it was a positive way to explain things.

Yesterday was a Character Building day. It began at 2:30 am when the neighbors car alarm went off for 20 minutes. It startled me and I instantly jumped out of bed to see what was going on and make sure it wasn’t my car.

As it continued it’s loud horn and flashing lights I wondered how long it would take the owner to turn it off and how anyone could sleep through the noise. Then I looked over and saw my husband gently snoring and sound asleep. The home where the car was parked is a multi-generational home and I thought of all the people that lived there, the struggles they recently have gone through and my heart went out to them. Finally the alarm was turned off and I returned to bed.

A few hours later another unfamiliar sound started and this time it was a Harley Davidson Motorcycle that was running and parked on the other neighbors front lawn. I think the idle was on high and I wondered what in the world they were doing riding a motorcycle in January. My thoughts were that regardless of how long they let it idle, the ride was still going to be a cold one.

Then my lovely alarm went off and it was really time to wake up. As I stood outside with our little dog, Missy, I kept hearing those words, Character Building. I could decide if I was going to be grouchy all day because of the lack of sleep or if I was going to choose to have a good attitude. For now I was going to choose a good attitude and I was kind of proud of myself for passing the early morning test.

Then I arrived at work. It was game on the minute I walked into the building. I kept saying with each new request, Character Building, Character Building. It helped to tell Hannah that I was experiencing continued testing and she laughed and said good luck.

The tests kept coming and I had lots of opportunities to make choices. I noticed that each time something went a different way than I expected, there was something better if I chose to not get frustrated. My coffee creamer was bad so no coffee, but I was able to get a smoothie and it hit the spot. I was tired from lack of sleep and at lunch I had a short nap in a tanning bed. Printer issues turned into training opportunities and all in all it turned out to be a pleasant day.

One of my favorite verses when I’m stressed is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Sometimes I have to say it ten times before I begin to feel the change in my attitude, but it always helps. Yesterday reminded me of a song by Casting Crowns called Life Song. Here are a few of the lyrics:

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my life song sing
Bring a smile to you
Let my life song sing to you
I want to sign your name
To the end of this day
Lord led my heart was true
Let my life song sing to you

I especially like the phrase “I want to sign your name to the end of this day.” First thing in the morning when I had the choice of my attitude I thought of this and didn’t want the end of my day to be filled with regret for a bad attitude. Thinking of reviewing my day with God, would He sign off on the day as one lived for Him? He gave me many opportunities to choose Him and it made my day so much better when I did.

Hannah asked when she came back from lunch how my Character Building was going, I responded that I was still smiling. As she sat down at her desk she bumped her water bottle and it spilled on her legs. She laughed and said, “the Character Building continues.”

My prayer

Father, thank you for opportunities to choose You. You are so creative and I do want to please You and make You proud. I’m blessed to have people around me that encourage me and make life more enjoyable. Help me to remember that You are building character in me for a purpose and that You love me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Where does my help come from?

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Joshua 24:15

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”