Attitude Adjustments

I actually had great expectations for my Cowboys this year. I was cautiously optimistic that this would finally be the year of the Cowboy. Don’t laugh. I really did. But, just like that, my hopes were dashed during the August 25th pre-season game. Tony Romo went down. He immediately grabbed his lower back and appeared to be in great agony. All I could do was yell at my TV screen with a loud “OH, NO!!!!”  I bet there were even worse words yelled that night from Cowboy fans.

I really loved Tony’s attitude after the injury. He said “In a weird way, I feel good about the fact that- that was probably as tough a hit I took on the back in the last five years. From that regard, I feel very lucky that it can hold up and you can keep going.” Well obviously, the injury was worse than even Romo’s positive attitude indicated. But, I refuse to be discouraged and still excited for another year of Cowboy football!

One of the ongoing issues with a broken foot is maintaining a good attitude. Every day, I deal with circumstances that can steal my joy. Take the smile flat off my face. Leave me grumpy. Irritated. Not fun to be with. Life on crutches isn’t easy. Getting through a heavy door. Getting into a car. Shopping. Waiting in line. Cooking. Driving. Constant discomfort. Pain. Not sleeping. These things have the power to crush my spirit.....if I let it.

I often need an attitude adjustment. I have learned through my experience that there are certain things I can’t control. I can’t control my injury. It is what it is. I can’t control the time it takes to heal. It is what it is. But, there are things I can control and one of those is my ATTITUDE. I can laugh a lot. I can greet people with a smile. I can reach out to others that are hurting. I can pray diligently for others. I can look for ways to bless my husband. I can practice gratitude in the little things. I can be thankful. i can forgive quickly. I can love deeply.

How about you? Every day, there are reasons for our attitude to take a nose-dive. God can help us. He is the creator of a right attitude. He wants His attitude to be our attitude! God will help us with our self-pity, our anger, our harsh words, our negativity and short temper. He can!!! You only need ask Him. Have a GREAT attitude this week!

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- thing about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.