Have you ever had one of those days?

No, not a bad day (that’s coming); but a day when you saw yourself and thought, “Wow! That’s me? That actually looks good!”

I had one of my daughters take a picture of my hair this morning because I was going to use it for Instagram, if it turned out ok. I did a simple hairband tuck with a Flexi twist in the back.

You can’t even see the hairband in the photo and there were about 15 blurry shots to this one shot. But I liked it! And that surprised me. And then I realized that God was using this to teach me something.

In our homeschool, the kids and I have been studying James.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

– James 1:2-3

We’ve been having some deep discussions about trials and having a firm foundation. I’ve explained to them that my goal is to give them a firm foundation, to hide the Word so deep in their hearts that it automatically comes out when they face trials. That was my experience. I know it works to get me through horrendous trials. I want that for them.

I tell them, it doesn’t matter what the trial, what the world throws at you, what the deceiver tries to convince you of. If you know who God is and what the Bible really says, you don’t have to fall for it. I even wrote down a few things for them to make this point. These things I know to be true, based on who I know God to be and what His word says…even through the trials:

• He is faithful and true to his word.
• He is always for me.
• He always loves me and follows hard after me.
• He will always protect me, even through the darkest night.
• He will never change.
• He can never be taken away from me.
• He will always give me direction if I ask him.
• He will always make himself known to me when I feel alone.
• He knows pain of betrayal.
• He knows loss.
• He knows what it feels like to be mocked and rejected.
• He knows me inside and out. He loves me anyway!
• He knows my heart when I draw it back from everyone else.
• He will not let me stumble.
• He will carry me through.
• He was with me from my first breath and will be with me beyond my last.
• He walks with me every day of my life.
• He will never leave me.
• He gave his life to be with me.

Now let me tell you a few things that have happened the last two weeks. We returned home from the trip to California (think vacation laundry) to discover that our washing machine had died. In the next three days, two of the children had a stomach bug. Still no washing machine. Hubby was working extra days and not home much. We have a fencing project going, and were ready to stretch the goat wire. Again, failure. The washing machine part arrived but the washer still doesn’t work. Then it started smelling hot on top of not draining. The lawnmower launched a projectile across the yard, completely shattering the back window of my van. Completely. Then the other lawnmower quit.

And one of my daughters was practicing her memory verse, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds…” on me. Thank you, Child.

Maybe it seems like this doesn’t do with the hair picture, but it does. Our (very relative, third world) trials and my seeing the bad in myself are working together. How will I respond?

I’m going to be thankful.

• I’m thankful that I still have my hair and my accessories always look good!
• I’m thankful that I don’t have to carry my laundry to the creek and wash it on a rock!
• I’m thankful for a hard working husband!
• I’m thankful that only two of six got the stomach bug!
• I’m thankful that my husband’s car wasn’t damaged!
• I’m thankful that none of my children were in the way of that projectile!
• I’m thankful that my son is strong and still able to push mow!
• I’m thankful for so much more that I can’t event write it all out!

So…all that came pouring into me today from one surprised reaction to a good hair day. I can choose to consider it all joy and look for things in which to be thankful! I can choose to give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for me! And whether things look up or not, I still have that firm foundation…And God will see me through.