You Choose
This is what mornings look like at our house.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/2339211/]
I have no idea why he was singing. It’s not as if this day was any different than the day before. When you’re two pretty much every day is the same. I guess he just woke up and decided he would sing. Why not?
I was reminded there are a lot of things you don’t get to choose. You don’t get to choose your circumstances, IQ, or even your giftedness.
But you do choose your attitude. You do choose if you wake up singing.
You can wake up singing or you can wake up complaining. You can wake up blaming others or you can wake up taking responsibility for your attitude. Your attitude is more important than your past, your money, your failures, your appearance, your education, your IQ and your current circumstances.
So how’s your attitude been lately?
Praying that you’ll wake up singing tomorrow,
Pete
Too Cute! I’m not really a morning person. Perhaps I should employ this strategy. Thanks for the attitude check Brewer. Na, na, na, na….Wooo!
Lately my attitude has been very good due to some attitude adjusting via the HOly SPirit.
He is showing me the VALUE OF PEOPLE. ALL KINDS of people.
The good, the bad and the ugly.
He’s been showing me how He uses them and their talents, words, and “quirks” to speak to me (just as your little guy did this morning) and whether or not I see it or choose to believe it, He adores them FOR WHO THEY ARE, JUST AS THEY ARE, because HE created them.
Your little guy can wake with a song in his heart because
his world is good, he knows nothing but LOVE. HE sees all those around him and loves them for WHO THEY ARE. He sees DADDY, not “the guy who was rude and yelled at me the other day- I’m never gonna’ speak to him again!”
I’d rather be taught by a 2 yr. old than a seminary graduate any ole’ day!
Hey, Pete. Where you heading to in Ohio?
By the way.. my attitude is mostly inquisitive/analytical with a touch of humor. It gets me in trouble…
A Worship Pastor In the Making!
My attitude has been awful! But, I know that and have been praying that God will help me have a good attitude. Those prayers are what have been getting me through the last couple months and especially the last few weeks.
That is precious! LOVE IT! Wish I could wake up that way. My attitude stinks in the morning. Gotta work on that, I know. But I am great by about 4 PM!
1) it sounded like a college fight cheer and 2) SHerri I enjoyed your response!
I may not wake up from sleep singing a song but it progresses very quickly to that point. I try to see the good in everyone, find the bright spot in every situation. My husband and I work for ourselves so that’s not always easy and I also corral grades 1-5 every day through the lunch room; not always easy either!
But in both professions I have to keep a smile on my face and so if I’m feeling low – I smile and I have an instant attitude adjustment!
If more people would or could wake up singing, or even think about how their attitude is affecting them and the people around them, the world would be a little brighter.
Oh my goodness! That’s adorable!!
I have a positive attitude; live life joyfully. And, like your little one, I’m a morning person.
Precious! Love hearing that there are still morning people no matter how young they are. I too am a morning person and most days wake up singing. For me it goes a long with making up the bed each morning. These morning rituals help to start my day with a sense of joy and accomplishment.
the little guys in our lives can sometimes teach us the biggest lessons.
i’m going to work on my attitude today thanks to this reminder from your little guy
So cute!! I’ve got a two year old too and love to hear her sing in the morning!
na na na na whoo… that video cheered me up!
oh yeah Brewer…na na na na woo!
Was there coffee in that sippy cup? How does one do that without coffee? That’s my question….
na na na na woo only comes after coffee for me.
that video is utterly adorable…..
Happy Thanksgiving to your family Pete. Have a safe trip.
@tonyyork, we’re headed to Toledo Ohio.
So cute! He is going to love to watch that when he gets older! I just turned 40 last weekend & instead of feeling old, I am excited! For some reason I actually like that I finally feel like an adult! I also like to tell people that I just turned 40…it probably helps that I look like I just turned 30! =0 Shocks them!
Too precious. Definitely a morning person. Thanks so much for sharing this and your words of encouragement. We choose. I’ll remember that.
That is so cute!!
Great video. I sang that once as I was getting up, but my wife slapped me! Hmmmmm…go figure haha!
Great point. I can definitely choose to be happier in the morning.
Toledo looks OK good thing you are not heading to Cleveland. http://twitpic.com/nxwf
Seriously the cutest thing ever! Love that he continued to sing even after he saw you videotaping him. Mine would have stopped immediately.
Great attitude check. Thanks.
Wave at me when you pass Exict 110 on I-75. We are just south of Lima, Ohio. Happy Thanksgiving!!
I’ve been stuck in a really crummy attitude lately of just pure wallowing.
Brewer you sing it out! Na, na, na, na Woo! Love it!
I’m totally not a morning person at all, so could really learn from you. I do like to sing in the shower though.
Btw, did you make a decision on the christmas lights dilemma?
That’s just awesome. Na na na na na na–wooo; that’s a pretty nice groove for a two year old. And I love that high pitched “woo!” and the hands wavin’ in the air like he just don’t care. Good film catch! Happy Thanksgiving and safe travel to everyone on the road this week.
Isn’t it funny what an impact a 2 year old can have on your outlook? I love it. Little reminders like this are gifts (=
Funny you should bring up my attitude. I actually had someone comment to me yesterday that they wished they were in as good a mood as me. (believe me that isn’t common) God has really been showing me and Sherry a bunch of stuff lately and I just can’t thank Him enough.
That was one of the most precious videos I have ever seen. I know you guys know but you have three very precious young men. Be careful on the trip and tell everyone we said Happy Thanksgiving!
wow! Pete i want to use this videoin a message bro! The illustrations that can come out of that are many!!!
This is great, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength” Ps 8:2 Made me evaluate my attitude, and how I want to not only wake up, but be all the day long. Signing praises to God, filled with the joy of the Lord. Be a positive impact on others. To focus on what I can control.
That was precious!
My attitude has been so-so. I don’t want to do anything yet know I need to so I’m trying to have a pleasant attitude about it.
Pete, i’m with Brewer! I’m definitely a morning person so I dig where he’s comiong from in the morning. Ask my wife (definitely not a morning person) I do a lot of singing in the morning. Kinda sets the tone for the whole day.
That Brewer…too cute!
I’ve always believed firmly that I get to choose my attitude. But some days I’m better at it than others. Lately i’ve been a bit of a roller coaster in the mood department (My poor husband!). I’ve really been working on that whole “taking every thought captive” thing that Paul talks about in 2 Cor.
Hi Pete! Thank you for sharing your family life — a truly lovely videoclip. You’ve got a wonderful son who keeps good rhythm and sings beautifully too! I trust God will use him mightily when he grows up!!!
@Pete… Enjoy driving I-75 through Ohio. I will be near to Dayton on Turkey Day myself… wife’s family is over that way. I presume you are heading north for Thanksgiving.
Have a safe and Happy holiday.
This is absolutely precious! I love that…huge smile cracked on my face in the first couple seconds. What a great way to start off the day
What a cutie!
@brunnettekoala we’re gonna wait. my wife won (she always does). they’ll be turned on friday when we get back from toledo. get ready nashville!!
Well that just made me giggle and smile and make me oh so happy! I love hearing children sing! Reminds me that I should do a whole lot more of it when I wake up…instead of thinking “where’s my coffee!” lol. Thanks for sharing Pete!
(I have my daughter’s permission to share this)
We have our 25 year old daughter living with us. She is a gifted singer. She is a gifted encourager. She is a passionate intercessor. She is also, currently, heavily disabled by post traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety. At this time, she feels panicked when outside of her room. Meds have failed to bring relief. At this time, she can not be social, employed or even eat a meal with her family. Yet, she sings worship songs in her room, emails encouragements to friends and former co-workers and spends her calming-down time in prayer for those whom she knows. It has been like this, off and on for years, this being its worst. How’s that for attitude.
Note:
I did not rave about my attitude. Her’s is better than mine.
Adorable! I’ll be singing it all day.
My attitude has been peaceful lately. After a long year of grief and a fear of what the holiday season would bring, God has given me amazing peace. He has reminded me that I am still making memories for my children, and I find myself anticipating the activities we will do together. God has given above and beyond what I could have imagined. I know He will carry me through. I didn’t think I could be excited about the holidays this year, but here I am, Na na na na, woo! I am praising my God.
okay…that is CUTE!
What a perfect song to start the day too! Such a sweet little voice!!
He is too adorable! What a great way for you guys to wake up in the morning – listening to him sing.
Have a fun and safe trip. Happy Thanksgiving!
The last of the true human freedoms according to Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning on Page 86 writes, “We who lived in concertration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last peice of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer suffient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way”. I love that quote and it helps me to keep in perspective what my attitude should be like, because I get to choose what it is!
Brewer was just too cute!
I have enjoyed the videos of your sons more than you could ever imagine. My oldest son died three years ago due to a genetic disease and his brother will also die in the not too distant future with the same genetic disease that forced them both into wheelchairs breathing with ventilators and feeding with peg tubes. As a result, their growing up years were difficult and very limited. Watching your sons embrace life with such enthusiasm and joy has been a delight. Thanks for videos. Tracy Barnes, Fellowship Church, Grapevine, TX
@melinda that is amazing. thank you for sharing such an inspirational story about your daughter. you’ve encouraged me today. i’ll keep her in my prayers.
He is so adorable! Thanks for sharing his morning song with us. It surely got me smiling!
Sometimes I wish I could be two again.
My attitude can be summed up with one word lately – HOPEFUL!
Hopeful that today’s living will reflect God’s work. Hopeful that my family will remain happy and healthy. Hopeful that our current economic, social and political crisis’ are short term. Hopeful that our dreams will come true and passions will be fulfilled. Hopeful because we know God is in control. Hopeful because we have tons of love in our lives to share!
Will Brewer be releasing any praise and worship CDs for holiday gift giving? The video would be even better!
We’ll be visiting your church again this week with the Cox family (as my son’s band will be performing in Nashville this weekend).
I think your worship team should learn this little ditty (complete with the hand gestures) or let Brewer lead the song for the congregation!
PLEASE ! DO it this week so we’ll get to see it!
That’s cute.
I love the thought with this post…choosing to wake up singing.
I met a man that said he never has a bad day, his day always starts “good” – He has great days and better days, but everyday is a good day. Since the day he made the decision to see everyday as “good” and to recognize how blessed he is, he has never been sick a day in his life. (Not to say that’s the same for everyone) But I think so many things in my personal life would be a lot smoother at times if I just chose that it was a good day…a day to wake up singing.
I am not a morning person and I sure can’t sing, but I try to always leave the house with a positive attitude and attempt to make the day joyful, encouraging and peaceful for everyone.
Who did he learn that tune from??? It sounds like a mixture from a few 80′s songs???? So cute!!! My attitude is good but I will tell you that I have to constantly keep it in check!
On your way home from Toledo maybe you can take your family to a really cool christmas light display in Liberty Township, Ohio In Butler County. It is walk through the bible. They have different christmas light displays of scenes of the bible. It opens the day after Thanksgiving and is open till christmas day. The best part it is Free. They even have a few barn animals you can visit and get free hot choclate and cookies in the big barn. Here is a link to the website. http://www.gregorycreekinn.com/Christmas.html
It is called Neiderman’s Christmas Farm.
Wish i could go back to Nashville with you so i can see what it is like there, i have never gone to Tennessee. Oh well maybe some day. Have a safe trip and you can have the boys count all the orange barrels on I 75. When you go by West Chester wave at me. LOl.
@michelle helms i’m pretty sure he combined a couple of different songs he learned in cross point’s kid stuff program. he kinda marches to his own beat.
On your way back from Toledo you should stop by the Neiderman Christmas farm in Liberty Township, Ohio in Butler County. You walk through scenes of the bible. This is the best christmas light display. The best thing is it is FREE. They have a barn with animals you can visit too. In the big barn you can have free hot choclate and cookies. Bob and Janet Niederman
4972 Lesourdsville – West Chester Rd., Liberty Township, Ohio 45011
(513)887-0725
here is the address
Maybe i can go back to Nashville with you. I have never been there. Ahhh wishful thinking. Lol
You can have your boys count the orange barrels on I 75. Wave to me as you pass West Chester Ohio. Have a safe trip.
I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t been waking up with the best attitude. My job’s not really all that satisfying, and I find myself forcing myself to do the things I need to.
That video of Brewer singin in his crib made me laugh though.
Good job, Pete.
Your kids are too cute! Thanks for sharing. That made me smile on a day when some real heavy things have happened in my world.
OH MY! Toooo cute! He is in a happy mood when he wakes up. Also, no bed head at all. Perfect little blond hair all in it’s place.
Very cute boy!
That is just the sweetest darned thing I’ve seen all day. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face! I hope your travels were safe today, and I wish you and the whole family a very Happy Thanksgiving! Can’t wait for you to get home and post some holiday lights photos!
Trying to see things positively …….feel like I’m growing in that way, but I still can struggle on occasion.
So today we got rear-ended by a big ole’ Ford Explorer in the only new car I’ve ever owned. I almost cussed while my husband got out and took care of the woman who hit us. She wasn’t hurt, but she was upset. “It’s just a car, we’re all okay.” – which I thought was such a great attitude.
Ah Pete… enjoy those days brother–they go way too fast. And I think you may have a future worship leader on your hands. It’s early i know–but I think he has the gift.
Thanks for the smile today
Wow -
My attitude really needs some serious adjustments. I’ve been trying to improve it … but as Yoda says “there is no trying. Only doing.” or something like that.
I love that we have a CHOICE everyday how to feel, react and behave throughout the day. One day I was gloomy and miserable at work, then that night I remembered I had a choice. Next day, my boss said to me “you seem much happier today.” I said yup, I made my mind up to be.
I need that again. Thanks for the reminder Pete.
Pete: Thanks for this timely post; I read this post sometime during the day yesterday; the day wasn’t good. I had physical ailment, there was no response for one of long pending issues etc. But when I woke up today, I told myself I am not going to complain, but going to have a positive attitude. I felt very positive the whole day. Thanks again. Keep it coming.
“Na na na na…..Woooo!” It just made me grin and smile and grin and smile!! I just love that age. My youngest is turning 8 on Monday….8!!! Its killing me. Love on that little guy all you can. So precious. Thanks Brewer for the show!
I wish I had that attitude in the am. Brewer is making me strive for such an attitude. It could get ugly tho …
I see you’re in Toledo. I have fam there. Have a Tony Paco’s dog instead of turkey! MMMM! In fact, have one for me too!
that brewer is so delicious!