Sheri Wohlfert
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Talks & Topics
    • Discipleship & Evangelization
    • Women's Ministry
    • Catholic Schools
    • Catholic Hospitality Training
  • Events & Bookings
  • About
  • Contact

Joyful Words Blog

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path. 

– Psalm 119:105

A Good Trade

2/1/2016

1 Comment

 
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.  1 Chronicles 16:34

Did you ever trade something from your lunch box when you were a kid?  I remember trying to trade tuna salad on Friday’s but it never worked.  Apples and oranges never seemed to give me much negotiation power either.  I do remember the day I made the trade of the decade.  On that memorable day mom put 2 fresh Chocolate Chip cookies in my lunch and I was able to trade them for a Twinkie!  I was so thrilled and I couldn’t believe the kid fell for those homemade cookies while I walked away with that little package of golden deliciousness.  I’d never had a Twinkie but they were store made; something we didn’t have at our house so I was sure they must be amazing!  I took a bite and I was instantly disappointed but I didn’t let on!  As the afternoon wore on I learned a valuable lesson about assuming things were better just because they looked fancy, expensive and well presented.  That was the last time I ever made a lunch trade and I never told my mom what I’d done because I thought it would hurt her feelings.  I also learned that day that homemade by hands that love you trumps everything so be very careful about the value of what you’re trading!

Since the disappointing Twinkie trade of the 70’s, I’ve become a much more skilled trader; I’m pretty good at not winding up with unwanted stuff.  Recently I learned from a good friend that sometimes you actually can trade away negative things.  I have some jealousy I’d like to get rid of but it isn’t one of those things somebody else wants so it often just sits around my heart and stinks things up.  It causes me to judge and envy and resent sometimes.  None of those things are attractive, productive or “disciple-ish” but I didn’t know what to do with it.  That’s where my friend came to the rescue.  She had one simple idea from a favorite Pastor and she gladly shared (not traded) the advice with me.  She said that jealousy could be traded away to the Father who loved me with all His heart.  The trade was simple; give him all my jealousy…in exchange for gratefulness. 

It was that simple!  The pastor told her that the bigger jealousy is the smaller our gratefulness is so you trade one for the other.  I’ve been working with my new trade and it’s true.  If I’m jealous about someone else’s stuff or opportunities then I’m not being grateful for my own.  If I’m busy comparing my situation, bank balance or work load with the next person’s I’m not being grateful for all the blessings God has given me.  When you look at it that way I realize how absolutely and completely LUCKY I am and that there isn’t one single thing in my life I’d trade for a fancier, more expensive, newer, and flashier ANYTHING!  Grateful is way better than jealous.  Reminds me of how much better mom’s cookies were than that stupid Twinkie.   I may not have marble countertops but I have an awesome husband who is my rock.  I may not have a dream vacation to take but I have three kids and a room full of middle lovelies that are greater than I ever dreamed.  I may not have a closet filled with fancy clothes but my body is wrapped with little people hugs and the joy and love of a building full of kids each and every day.  I may not have treasures to be sold but I have freedom, love, faith and a life I get to share with friends, family and a community I love.  Jealous…that’s as crazy as a Twinkie snagged in a bad trade!

A Seed To Plant:  Start a list of things you are grateful for!  Include it all, big stuff, small stuff and everything in between.  Keep the list handy and add to it every time you think of something and use it to help you trade the negative things; the things that pull us away from the love of the Father.

Blessings on your day!

1 Comment
Reba Sommer
2/1/2016 06:38:27 am

Perfect reflection at the beginning of a new week.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to Joyful Words Blog
    Subscribe

    Sheri's writing can also be found at Faith Catholic Publications and on CatholicMom.com
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

Email     [email protected]

Phone   989.640.6673

Subscribe to Joyful Words Blog

* indicates required
/* real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups */

Content is the intellectual property of Sheri Wohlfert
Created by Olivia K Design
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Talks & Topics
    • Discipleship & Evangelization
    • Women's Ministry
    • Catholic Schools
    • Catholic Hospitality Training
  • Events & Bookings
  • About
  • Contact