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Thoughts, Attitude and Molasses

Thoughts, Attitude and Molasses

by Charlotte Siems

Chicken Taco Soup was bubbling in the crockpot and the homemade cornbread batter was being whisked in the bowl. Company would arrive within the hour, and the table was already set with a cloth, candles and a pretty ivy centerpiece. Then came a sudden noise from the pantry—what was THAT?

Opening the door, I found bags of cornmeal and sugar dumped on the floor, in the midst of a spreading puddle of thick, black molasses and broken glass. My first reaction was “oh, no!” and then thoughts of stress began tumbling through my mind. “I still have to finish the cornbread and pick up the den and fold those towels on the couch. All of the older children are gone to choir practice and I only have 30 minutes to finish everything. Why did this have to happen? What a mess!” You get the picture.

Suddenly an image that I had seen earlier that day flashed in my mind. A tumbled, broken building destroyed by an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Immediately the little pantry disaster shrunk to small proportions.

Did I still have a sticky, gooey mess to clean up? Yes. Did I still have time constraints and lots to do? Yes. But my attitude had changed completely. As I sopped up the floor I was thankful for paper towels. I thought about how we would laugh over the story later. I decided to just throw away the dish towel because of the all the tiny shards of glass embedded in it, instead of worrying about how I was going to get them out without injuring anyone.

It’s actually pretty amazing what a change in thoughts will do. Our thoughts create changes in our brain, which affect our emotions and release chemicals that affect every cell in our body. We don’t have control over what thoughts pop into our head, but we do have control over what we do with them. We can water and fertilize them and go down that road of self-pity and stress. Or we can toss them and declare, “I’m not going to think those thoughts” and they will fade away.

It’s a two-step process: Choose not to think negative, stressful, toxic thoughts. Choose to think positive, peaceful, healthy thoughts.

Your thoughts accumulate and create your attitude, my friend.

I wish I would have known this as a young mother. Oh, the pain and desperation it could have spared me! I remember praying hard that God would change my attitude. I didn’t realize that He had already given me the tools and the ability to change it myself. I kept waiting for a magic sudden change in my attitude. Instead I slowly, painfully learned that the thoughts I chose to think were shaping and creating my attitude.

Today the mess is mostly cleaned up but the pantry floor needs another scrub with hot soapy water to remove the last traces of molasses glaze. I’m guessing my thoughts could use some more cleaning and scrubbing, too. Like the pantry, my mind needs constant vigilance and refilling with good things. 

***********************
Charlotte Siems has studied home management for over 30 years.  She believes that Home should always be a warm, welcoming, Lovely Place to shelter and strengthen loved ones for their tasks out in the world.  While building a homey home on a tight budget and making memories with holiday traditions, she has fostered a love of learning in her children and maintained a healthy marriage.  She lives in Oklahoma with her family, where she still homeschools the youngest five of her twelve children.
 ****************************

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About Charlotte

I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fe says

    February 24, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    Hi Charlotte, what an inspirational post….great message. Not having any children of my own (yet) I was curious for you to ellaborate on what you meant by “I wish I would have known this as a young mother” what kinds or situations or applications are you referring to? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but since I have not been in that position I am not sure!

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      February 24, 2011 at 9:22 pm

      Sounds like the next blog post to me. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lsmccune says

    February 24, 2011 at 10:24 pm

    Charlotte. In counseling we call that awfulizing. Some people obsess and worry about small situations and things they can’t change. When we put it all in perspective, life is full of small problems and why waste our time fretting over those small problems. God is in control of our lives and he will take control of the small and the big problems. When my kids were young I was so busy trying to take care of the small problems that I sometimes got lost in the minor details and forgot to enjoy them. That is what I regret about raising a family. I am doing much better at being a grandma! LaDonna

    Reply
  3. nana13 says

    June 27, 2011 at 8:33 am

    It’s almost 3:30 a.m.  My youngest daughter, who lives next door just had her fourth child.  This is her third in three years and her seventh total, since she married a man with three children who are visiting for the summer.  She takes classes online, cuts hair on the side and has a history that makes me tired just thinking about it.  Walking into her home the day she came home from the hospital, she looked like a scared rabbit.  In spite of it all, she keeps trying hard to build a home.  Some days she succeeds, and then there are those other days.  I never know where the line is.  How much help is enough….or too much?  I’m so encouraged by your articles.  This one reminds me to be an example or cheerfulness and help her laugh at the hard things.  Any advice for dealing with several little ones.  Her husband works very long hours.  Guess I’ll try to sleep again.  Thanks.

    Reply

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I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU! Read More…

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valuethislife

valuethislife
It’s not so much having a lot to do and many res It’s not so much having a lot to do and many responsibilities....it’s over-committing and the energy of “not being enough” that leads to burnout and adrenal fatigue. Your body will cooperate until it doesn’t.  Check in with yourself: What is driving all this doing? What’s behind all the striving, pushing, proving? Sit with that....and then STOP being so hard on yourself, sweetie. Give yourself a break. See where you can simplify. Think about what refreshes you and bring more of that into your life. 🌱
Day 8 of city-water-shortage-after-frozen-pipes ha Day 8 of city-water-shortage-after-frozen-pipes hair. Today they gave the go-ahead for dishwashers and clothes washers, so this girl will be washing her hair without guilt. A week ago it was snowing and -26 windchill, today it’s 71 degrees and sunshine. Don’t tell anyone, but I like variety so Oklahoma weather suits me.😍
Family favorite: No-Bake Cookies! Our recipe is ju Family favorite: No-Bake Cookies! Our recipe is just right, both chocolate-y and peanut butter-y. We like to eat these while they’re still warm and gooey!  Best No-Bake Cookies  1 stick butter  1/2 c. milk  2 c. sugar  1/2 c. cocoa  Mix in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until melted and combined.  Boil 1 1/2 minutes only! Remove from heat and stir in:  1/2 c. peanut butter  1 tsp. vanilla  3 c. oats (either quick oats or old-fashioned)  Drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper.  Let set and enjoy!
Living and loving with your whole heart.💕That s Living and loving with your whole heart.💕That sounds lovely but exhausting. Maybe it’s because we’re zoomed out, looking at the whole day and our whole life. 
.
God is not asking you to do it all. Especially not all at once. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. 
.
Zoom back in to this moment. Do the next thing, but do it with your whole heart. 
.
While you’re doing the thing, stop thinking about all the OTHER things you have to do. The most important things WILL get done, but not all at once.❤️
Pretty college student on her 21st birthday. Our 1 Pretty college student on her 21st birthday. Our 10th child. Straight A student. Absolute delight. And when I found out I was pregnant with her, I couldn’t see how it would work out. All I could see was the current circumstance, the feelings and the fear of the future. Maybe this will encourage you today about a situation in your life. There’s a lot of good and hope in your future.🌱
Snow is rare where I live in Oklahoma. Today it’ Snow is rare where I live in Oklahoma. Today it’s still at the pretty stage, when it covers bare ground and sparkles in the sun. Stray snowflakes are falling like glitter. The melting gray slush is coming, but for today it’s a fairy landscape. Reminds me that we can’t stop time or hold on to life’s moments. We can look for the good right where we are and trust God for the “different” good coming.❄️
A good word for when you’re tempted to be mean t A good word for when you’re tempted to be mean to yourself ❤️
Nobody sittin’ on this garden bench in two degre Nobody sittin’ on this garden bench in two degree weather today!🥶Unusually cold, with rare snow and more to come in Oklahoma. This weather event has disrupted “life as usual.” Prayers for those without power, water or heat right now—rolling power blackouts have begun...
Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
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Looking For Something?

valuethislife

valuethislife
It’s not so much having a lot to do and many res It’s not so much having a lot to do and many responsibilities....it’s over-committing and the energy of “not being enough” that leads to burnout and adrenal fatigue. Your body will cooperate until it doesn’t.  Check in with yourself: What is driving all this doing? What’s behind all the striving, pushing, proving? Sit with that....and then STOP being so hard on yourself, sweetie. Give yourself a break. See where you can simplify. Think about what refreshes you and bring more of that into your life. 🌱
Day 8 of city-water-shortage-after-frozen-pipes ha Day 8 of city-water-shortage-after-frozen-pipes hair. Today they gave the go-ahead for dishwashers and clothes washers, so this girl will be washing her hair without guilt. A week ago it was snowing and -26 windchill, today it’s 71 degrees and sunshine. Don’t tell anyone, but I like variety so Oklahoma weather suits me.😍
Family favorite: No-Bake Cookies! Our recipe is ju Family favorite: No-Bake Cookies! Our recipe is just right, both chocolate-y and peanut butter-y. We like to eat these while they’re still warm and gooey!  Best No-Bake Cookies  1 stick butter  1/2 c. milk  2 c. sugar  1/2 c. cocoa  Mix in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until melted and combined.  Boil 1 1/2 minutes only! Remove from heat and stir in:  1/2 c. peanut butter  1 tsp. vanilla  3 c. oats (either quick oats or old-fashioned)  Drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper.  Let set and enjoy!
Living and loving with your whole heart.💕That s Living and loving with your whole heart.💕That sounds lovely but exhausting. Maybe it’s because we’re zoomed out, looking at the whole day and our whole life. 
.
God is not asking you to do it all. Especially not all at once. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. 
.
Zoom back in to this moment. Do the next thing, but do it with your whole heart. 
.
While you’re doing the thing, stop thinking about all the OTHER things you have to do. The most important things WILL get done, but not all at once.❤️
Pretty college student on her 21st birthday. Our 1 Pretty college student on her 21st birthday. Our 10th child. Straight A student. Absolute delight. And when I found out I was pregnant with her, I couldn’t see how it would work out. All I could see was the current circumstance, the feelings and the fear of the future. Maybe this will encourage you today about a situation in your life. There’s a lot of good and hope in your future.🌱
Snow is rare where I live in Oklahoma. Today it’ Snow is rare where I live in Oklahoma. Today it’s still at the pretty stage, when it covers bare ground and sparkles in the sun. Stray snowflakes are falling like glitter. The melting gray slush is coming, but for today it’s a fairy landscape. Reminds me that we can’t stop time or hold on to life’s moments. We can look for the good right where we are and trust God for the “different” good coming.❄️
A good word for when you’re tempted to be mean t A good word for when you’re tempted to be mean to yourself ❤️
Nobody sittin’ on this garden bench in two degre Nobody sittin’ on this garden bench in two degree weather today!🥶Unusually cold, with rare snow and more to come in Oklahoma. This weather event has disrupted “life as usual.” Prayers for those without power, water or heat right now—rolling power blackouts have begun...
Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
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