This morning I opted for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Not the healthiest, I know, but quick and easy. They finished eating and I
began my cleaning. Vacuuming the whole apartment, finding a hole in my sons
windowsill, washing the dishes, starting the dryer again since it didn’t dry
the clothes completely (AGAIN), and going about getting the boys dressed and
ready for when daddy finishes work. 7:30 rolls around, I’m out of breath and
getting packages ready to be mailed (my husband has an online business selling
Lego’s). I get a text, time to leave and pick him up! We get buckled in and
head out. Wouldn’t you know it? Traffic as far as I can see down 1604. What
normally takes me about 10 minutes now takes about 40. During our car ride, the
boys are in the back seat getting restless. “Mom, go faster!” “Mom, he take his
shoes off.” “Mom, we go to daddy HEB?” Now I’m wishing my car could fly….
Finally get to my husband’s job, pick him up and its smooth
riding back home. From the corner of my eye I can see my husband signing. Once
again its complaints about how tired he is, his aisle was a mess and he needs
to get home and get to sleep since he has to work early tonight because of
inventory. I tune him out and just nod occasionally. I’m feeling exhausted
already and yet my day hasn’t really begun.
Once home I get the packages ready for the mail, have my
husband start copying some paperwork I need mailed out today, get the boys
ready for their bath, and try to prepare myself for a long day. My husband is
frustrated that I need this paperwork ready this morning (I’ve told him I’d need
it for the past 2 days already). He doesn’t like having to rush unless it’s
something he really wants.
Finally everything is done that really needed to get done.
He gets in the shower, the kids go play, and I take a moment to catch my breath
and read. My mom had given me some pamphlets on marriage and living better. The
first one I pick up is by Dr. James Dobson. I’ve heard him before. When I was
still living with my parents we listened to a Christian radio station that
often played Dr. Dobson clips. This one is titled Values in the Home, and is supposed to offer 38 principles that Dr.
Dobson “has drawn from a lifetime of experience in Christian living and in
human experience”. The one that seemed to shout to me right away was #7: Human
worth does not depend on beauty or intelligence or accomplishments. We are all
more valuable than the possessions of the entire world, simply because God gave
us that value. This fact remains true, even if every other person on earth
treats us like losers.
I really needed to hear that. Some days, like today, I get
to feeling like I took the wrong path in life. That everything is headed
downhill permanently. I want to throw in the towel and say, “I’m done!” Nothing
more, I’m done. Statements like the one above, however, remind me that it’s
just one of those days. As quick as it came and as bad as it may have been, it
will be gone. Tomorrow will be a new day with new challenges and possibilities.
Further down at #8: Strong desire is like a river. When you
have a strong desire for something the outcome can go 1 of 2 ways. If it’s the right
kind of desire – things can go well. If you desire something that shouldn’t or
isn’t meant to be – you will be very unhappy when things don’t go well.
#10: Comparison is the root of all feelings of inferiority.
The moment you begin examining other people’s strengths against your most
obvious weaknesses, your self-esteem starts to crumble! Everyone is strong and
weak in various abilities. Comparing yourself or your life with someone else’s
(probably because they seem to be doing so much better than you), leads to
unhappiness and resentment towards them. It’s also a waste of energy. Some
people may seem to have the perfect life, but underneath they are struggling
just as hard if not harder. They put on a mask to make others think all is well
and hide the reality.
#13: If you’re going through difficult times today, hold
steady: It will change soon. If you are experiencing smooth sailing and easy
times now, brace yourself: It will change soon. The only thing you can be
certain of is change.
#17: One of the secrets of successful living is found in the
word balance, referring to the
avoidance of harmful extremes. We need food, but we should not overeat. We
should work, but not make work our only activity. We should play, but not let
play rule us. Throughout life, it will be important to find the safety of the
middle ground, rather than the imbalance of the extremes.
I could go on with other encouraging words from this
pamphlet but I have 2 little boys who need a nap and laundry that needs to get
done…. So I’ll end for now and maybe write more later. I hope someone out there
reads this and has a brighter day. You are worth more than all the world and
its riches, so don’t let anyone or anything get you down for too long.
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