Snarky

"What are you thankful for today?" he asks as we get ready to eat dinner.

"I'm thankful that we are one day closer to summer being over," I say. But I don't speak it thankful. I say it snarky.

Snarky. adj ˈsnär-kē. Definition: : crotchety, snappish.

Crotchety and snappish. That pretty well sums up my attitude. Not exactly my finest hour.

Summer is in full swing in Phoenix, Arizona with temperatures this week averaging 107, a welcome change from the record-setting temps of 118 the week before.

The heat wears on me and I am not the only one.  Friends who work in restaurants or in retail tell tales of short tempers and grumpy people. Facebook posts are full of complaints about the weather. We are united in our common need to whine about the atmosphere.

There is only one problem. I have found that thankfulness and snarkiness cannot exist in the same moment of space.

In the same heart. In the same mouth.

It is impossible.

Complaining prevents me from experiencing the presence of God in my circumstances or situation. It shuts the door on the possible blessings that are in store for me.

Philippians 2:14 says, "Do all things without complaining and disputing."

All things.

I don't get a pass when it's 118 degrees. Or when the battery is dead on my car. Or when I'm tired. Or hot.

Or when I get bad news from a friend. Or when we break a window while moving a couch out of our son's room.

Do ALL THINGS without complaining or disputing.

The passage continues in verse 15 by saying if I choose to live such a life, I will shine as a light to the world.

That's it? That's all it takes?

In a whiny, grumbly, nitpicking, fault-finding world, I can choose to be a light bearer just by watching my mouth?

And my attitude.

Because a non-snarky heart is a thankful heart. And a thankful heart leaves room for the presence of God, the giver of all GOOD.

This week I have reached my goal of 1000 gifts - a thankful list I began back in January, a list I should have remembered when I was being snarky.

991 - Geckos

992 - A phone call from Aleah in Mozambique

993 - Zach's near-perfect 3 point turn and new driver's license

994 - Fresh peach juice dribbling down my chin

995 - a glorious majestic haboob

996 - a long line at the car wash

997 - scrapbooking vacation photos

998- homemade salsa from garden tomatoes

999- air conditioning

1000 - The gift of 1000 reasons.