What Goes In

You've heard the saying "What goes in must come out." The Bible even tells us that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks and that the good man brings forth good from the good in his heart. I have certainly found this to be true in my life.

The other day, our day got off to a rough start. Landon woke up earlier than he usually does and earlier than I wanted to get up! Having not had enough sleep, he was quite cranky. I had gone to bed late the night before and had definitely not had enough sleep; thus I was cranky as well.

After Landon ate breakfast, I decided a Starbucks cafe vanilla frappucino was definitely in order. So, I grabbed my breakfast to eat on the way, put Landon in the car, and took off. When I'd almost reached the end of our road, I heard something roll off the top of the car...my breakfast. Grrr... So, there went my breakfast. Already, I could tell that this was not going to be a great day.

I know nothing catastrophic had happened, but I was very frustrated and already wishing away the day. In the short drive to Starbucks, however, I made a decision that I was going to embrace the day, come what may, and make the most of it. I wasn't going to whine or complain or choose to be miserable. I was going to choose joy. I knew, however, that I did not have the strength to do that on my own.

Here's the "what goes in" lesson...as soon as I acknowledged that I could not do it on my own, God brought a verse to my mind, "The Lord is my strength and my song." Now, before you go thinking that I'm super spiritual and had that verse memorized and ready to remember in a moment of need, let me tell you where I learned that verse. Landon's Baby Faith video! I love those Baby Faith videos for him for two reasons: 1. He loves them and is mesmerized by them unlike any other video he's ever seen. 2. They teach a Bible story, quote verses, and play hymns as background music. They are very simple, basic videos - similar concept to the Baby Einstein. When I got them, I thought, "Oh, how great this will be for him (not me). It will help me teach him God's word." I never thought it would help me.

It did! Here I was - deciding to be joyful in a situation where I would need God's strength to do so - and the verse, "The Lord is my strength and my song (joy)" comes to mind. Now, mind you, I had not sat and watched that video in earnest, trying to glean wisdom from the hand puppets. Nor had I watched it repeatedly day in and day out. Nor had I chosen to bring that verse to mind. It came unbidden because it's what I had "put in." It's what I had allowed in through my senses; and, therefore, it's what came out.

I began to think, "What else am I putting in?" Are my music, television, and conversation choices filling my heart with good things? I'm usually pretty careful not to fill it with "bad" things, but are they GOOD? Am I spending more time reading Facebook status updates than I am spending in my Bible? Umm...yes. Am I choosing to talk about something that someone did to get on my nerves instead of something that honors God? Umm...yes. Am I watching television shows that embrace homosexuality and pornography and pre-marital sex as normal? Umm...yes. So, although these shows and conversations, etc. may not necessarily be "bad." The question is, are they good? I've only got so much room in my heart and mind. How do I want to fill that space? What do I want to put in? I guess a better question is - What do I want to come out?

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