Transparent Christian Magazine

I seem to love the “pity pot,” and I know a lot of people, like me, who spend a lot of time there. And yes, I’m going to go there… How deep is that ring around your butt?

Sometimes life brings so many trials at once, that finally even one silly thing pushes you over the edge. That is when I break out that ‘ole “pity pot” and plop down.

I go to several small groups each week. For three weeks all I did was whine to everyone. I whined about the medical issues three of my kids were going through. I whined about too much month at the end of the money. I whined that we probably were not going to get to take the kids on a little vacation to Disney World for just one day. We live two hours away from Disney, so it would be a cheap vacation. However, we couldn’t even afford that. I whined about my husband and me arguing about the issues. But the thing that pushed me over the edge was that my “enter/return key” on my laptop broke. As a writer, this button is VERY important. I called the computer repair store. They couldn’t just fix the key. They had to replace the whole keyboard for a whopping $150.00. I stuck my butt on that “pity pot,” and whined and cried. I told God how unfair all this was. How dare he put me through so much?

I called my sponsor to tell her my tales of woe, and rather then “ooing” and “aweing” with me, she told me to get off the “pity pot.” I was so offended, even though she was right. So, I decided to gain sympathy elsewhere.

I went to my Wednesday night group, and whined away. As I left, embarrassment began to enter my consciousness. They were probably sick to death of my whining. I know I get tired when someone else is whining away over and over. That picture of me on that “pity pot” became embarrassing. I slowly began working my way off the “pity pot.”

Two weeks later, I walked into Thursday small groups. My favorite shoes (you know the ones you throw on all the time) broke. I twisted my ankle. At this point, I was like “whatever.” Things going wrong were following me everywhere. I had decided I was sick of hearing myself whine. I’m sure there were many friends of mine that were grateful also. I shared with the group, I was officially off the pity pot, and whenever God decided to work things out, I would just trust Him. Even though I still sported the “ring around my butt,” I was determined to not to return.

That night, I left to go to Wal-Mart to attempt to find a pair of shoes that were just as comfortable. I tried various shoes on, and finally picked one. I figured I should look at the price: $6.50. I just smiled knowing that God was taking care of me. I moved on to the section where the CD-R’s were that I need to pick up. Right beside them were attachments for you laptop. Low and behold, there hung a numbers keypunch with an “enter key!” The price: $12.88.

God had just waited for me to surrender my will, and get off the “pity pot.” I called my girlfriends, and we shouted the praise, not just for the new “enter key,” but for my surrender.

This is my first article I have written with my new “enter key.” I did this on purpose, because I always want to remember this lesson. The “pity pot” gets you nowhere. All you get is a ring around your butt. Getting off it, allows God to MOVE!

I’m sure there will be times that I will want to sit back down. But, I don’t plan on staying there long enough to get the ring around my butt!

Michelle

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Editor’s note: Check out Michelle’s new website! www.michellerocker.com