It’s been one of those weeks for me. Lots to do, and never enough time to stop and breathe. Except there is time, of course. I just don’t take it.
Last night, or early this morning, I trudged up the stairs to bed with a stack of work to complete. Slamming my notebook down on the bed, I proclaimed to my hubby for the umpteenth time, “No more projects!”
“I mean it!” I grumbled as he sat comfortably in bed, grinning at me. We both know better.
Earlier that evening, I had tucked my little one into bed, rubbing her forehead softly as her eyes fluttered closed. She’d had a rough day and we smiled and whispered sweet words to each other, ending the day right.
I watched Idol with my hubby and Coco, standing my ground against the two of them when they tried to persuade me that I indeed like grunting and growling singers. I so don’t.
After lights out, I hunkered down in my office to catch up on projects I’d left for the last minute. Life of a mom, right?
Elsewhere in the country, people were facing devastating storms and battling for their lives.
Some lost.
A superhero of a preacher, so loved by so many, was in an accident and went home to heaven.
A million people were camping under the stars, hoping for a glimpse of a princess.
And this Mommy was safe in her office, grumbling about being too busy.
The world is a funny place.
Today, I opened my eyes and said, Thank you. Over and over again.
It was a day for ice cream cones, playing outside, and listening to my husband’s music without complaining… grunts and all. Thank you.
A day to be excited about work, about creativity and about a zillion projects. Thank you.
A day to be happy to have a floor to vacuum. Thank you.
Another day to tuck my girls in and kiss them goodnight. Thank you.
A night to snuggle in bed with my husband and forget about projects and writing and emails.
Thank you.
My prayers are with families that have lost homes and loved ones. If you’d like to help one such family, click here.
I hear you Angela. I’ve done my share of whining this week (I’m not saying you did that!) but I know in my heart how much I have to be thankful for and need to focus on that more often.
Over the past few months, partly inspired by reading 1000 Gifts and the blog that inspired it, I have been putting this into practice: turning my complaining (even the mental kind) into thanksgiving. What a difference it makes! And yes, having a sense of perspective about true suffering certainly helps.
Good word, Angela. Thank you.
Sounds very much like my day…my week. Thanks for encouraging a change in perspective. Today, I’ll be trying to say “Thank you” more & complaining less.
My week was also a lot like yours. It is so good to put it in perspective. most of my busyness is my own doing. I’m busy because I choose to take on new projects. I feel silly when I think about it. I should not complain. Especially when there are others facing such difficult circumstances.
I had the same kind of week last week. The storms on Wednesday evening changed all of that. We live just south of Atlanta and in a tornado in Griffin, GA two people were killed. One of them was the brother of a friend of mine in our homeschool group. Wow – talk about close to home and such sorrow and loss. I have gone through the days since then feeling a profound sense of gratitude and appreciation for each day I have been given. I hope God gives me words to speak to my friend tomorrow as we take her family a meal before her brother’s funeral.
I appreciated reading your post today – it is so very true.