This was brought home to me the other day, when I knocked over a stack of boxes...a stack that I'd knocked over before,and before that. I simply had not had the energy to put them away properly.
I became irritated, and used language, that, were I to reproduce it here, would doubtless fry the hard drive. Can't afford that, so I shall spare your sensibilities...and my ego.
But the question arose...was it really worth it, getting angry over something like that? Was the negative input to the day justified for something that took less than a minute to set right?
Obviously not. Yes, it could be excused as an OW-I-hit-my-thumb-with-a-hammer! moment, but really, when time and life is limited, that's cold comfort.
So I have to practice. When something goes pear-shaped, I can use it as an opportunity to take a breath and say, "It's OK. These things happen. Clean up and move on."
Too ill to write more, but I would love to hear your thoughts; I may not be able to respond to every comment now but I read and treasure them all.
Musical accompaniment, just for fun, is from Lillix, with It's About Time.
And marley has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.
Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.
Too ill to write more, but I would love to hear your thoughts; I may not be able to respond to every comment now but I read and treasure them all.
Musical accompaniment, just for fun, is from Lillix, with It's About Time.
Still hoping to get the new and improved version of Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart up and running in the near future. Just haven't had the energy to do it yet...but if you would like to read it, please say so in your comment and I'd be glad to send you a PDF (which should fit your Kindle).
I have another blog, "Starting The Day With Grace". The focus is a grace quote from someone you might not expect (like, say Mick Jagger) and a short commentary. I hope you'll join me.
Marley update... been moved to a sanctuary, and Bay County will revise their 'dangerous dog' codes.
WE MADE A DIFFERENCE!
And marley has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.
If you can, please do leave a comment. I am trying to answer all, and I am failing, but please know this - I read and treasure each one.
Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.
Sorry you've been struggling, Andrew. It's hard when things like that get us down and , while we know there's no benefit in dwelling on them, we struggle to move on. Praying for you!
ReplyDeletePS- I have nominated you for a blogger award! Details are in my post but there is absolutely no pressure to take part. I just wanted to show my appreciation for you and your words.
Lesley, thank you so much...and I'm honoured by the nomination!
DeleteTruly grateful for your friendship.
Andrew, I'll admit I kind of lost it with my boys yesterday. A number of little stressors collided and the boys were the unfortunate recipients of my "processing." If I had it to do over again, I would not have gone off on them the way I did.
ReplyDeleteYour words bring to mind the words of a pastor of ours (from many years ago). He always exhorted us to "keep the Main Thing the main thing." When we keep our focus on the most important things (for you, living each moment well), the smaller, lesser things won't rattle us.
Thank you for sharing this post. You've got me thinking, friend. I'm praying for you.
Jeanne, please don't beat yourself up...it does happen, and teen boys are born, I think, knowing which buttons to push.
DeleteKeeping the Main Thing the main thing is such wisdom...and it can be so hard to follow, at least for me.
Thank you so much for the prayers. They are appreciated and needed.
I guess along the way we learn to choose our battles. What's worth going to the mat for?
ReplyDeleteWhen all is said and done, surprisingly not all that much ...
Linda, you are so right. There really isn't much worth trashing one's good feelings for.
DeleteWish I had learned that earlier; glad to have learned it now.
I think humans are capable of anger for a reason, but sometimes it does more harm than good. Most people in your situation would have lost control of their emotions many times already. You show you're a man of courage by keeping yours under control as well as you have.
ReplyDeleteJan, thank you for this, and I thin you are right...we are given anger for some very specific reasons, but like a semi-domesticated wolf, it has to be kept under control. Not easy.
DeleteI'm so glad you're here.
When so much is taken away, we realize how precious each moment is. Sometimes that makes it easier to handle the little things that go wrong. And other times I think it makes it harder because it is just one. more. thing. that is getting messed up or going wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Janet. You are a man of courage. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Praying for you and Barbara, as always.
Rachel, you're absolutely right - it does go both ways. In my better moments I can overlook when things go wrong, but at my worst, I feel like it's yet another thing taken from me - time that I will not get back.
DeleteThank you so much for your kind words, and for your prayers; you are ever in ours.
I'm just glad to hear that you are still up and getting around, Andrew, and not bed-bound. But I love how you use every difficulty to recalibrate your focus on the positive. I've seen you do this time after time and it's always inspiring to me--to us all! Praying daily for you, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBeth, thanks so much...and no worries, I'll never be bed-bound...see, I sleep on an ottoman in the kennel!
DeleteI've come to realize that without the ability to recalibrate on the positive, one simply fades...and dies. Don't want to do that.
Thank you so much for the prayers; these days have been the worst yet, and prayers are really, really needed.
Wow. I am proud of you Andrew!
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly I have been snappy recently over little things and have regretted it.
Thank you for putting this in an even better perspective!
Love and prayers,
Tammy