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PROGRAM D-7602
Let’s look at another page from the book:
“At breakfast Anthony found a Corvette Sting Ray car kit in his breakfast cereal box and Nick found a Junior Undercover Agent code ring in his breakfast cereal box but in my breakfast cereal box all I found was breakfast cereal. I think I’ll move to Australia.”
Oh, Alexander, I understand the feeling. When you want what others have and you’re not content with what you have, that makes for a terrible day indeed! When was the last time you looked at something someone else had and felt cheated? When was the last time you envied someone else?
Paul wrote: “. . . for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Did you know that you can learn to be content? Have you ever prayed that God would teach you contentment?
To add to his misery, Alexander’s talents and abilities were not appreciated:
“At school Mrs. Dickens liked Paul’s picture of the sailboat better than my picture of the invisible castle. At singing time she said I sang too loud. At counting time she said I left out sixteen. Who needs sixteen? I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible no good, very bad day.”
Now all of these little irritations began to add up to a huge case of self-pity for Alexander. You’ve had pity parties, haven’t you? Not much fun, are they? Nobody comes! And yet we seem to want to throw them quite often.
If you’re struggling with self-pity, you’re probably having some miserable days. So, why do you keep wallowing in it? Self-pity is self-inflicted suffering. You can shut down a pity party anytime you choose. How do you shut down the pity parties? By being thankful. In Ephesians we are reminded to always give thanks to God for everything (Ep. 5:20). Just try being thankful all day today for everything. It will quickly turn around a horrible, very bad day.