Slow Down

I can be such an extreme person. For example, the last time I blogged I shared my gratitude with you, but within the hour, I found myself feeling less than grateful. You see, Mr. K was out of town for the day and so I had to get Katie, Drew and Nicholas up, fed, and ready for school by myself. Then I had to get them to school in time so I could get back and go for my daily run and have a shower before a 9:30 meeting I wanted to attend. Whew~ that tires my out just thinking about the tight schedule I always seem to put myself on. Anyway, as we were on our way to school (having left later than usual), a car nearly ran into us as it was backing out of its driveway, so I had to honk. Then we got behind a tractor going ten miles per hour on a two-lane residential street. I had to pass it when I got the chance. But the final straw that broke my serenity was when we got to the carpool line and I was waiting to drop the kids off. I let a tiny, wee little gap get in between the car in front of me and our car and an obnoxious DAD cut right in front of us! Boy, was I hot. As the kids got out, I told them I would really like to go and say something to him, but I wouldn't because that is not what God would want me to do. Then I kissed them goodbye and wished them a wonderful day with a smile on my face. But when I got out of the school parking lot, I zoomed behind that rude dad and tailed him, while flashing my brights at him. Shame on me. I pulled my baseball cap down so he wouldn't see me and then we went separate ways. When I finally was able to run, I started to feel guilty about my behavior, so I prayed the Serenity Prayer and asked God to forgive me. I also asked God if I could just start the day over from then. And guess what? My day went better, except that I strained both of my ankles running too much. That is another extreme of mine~ either I don't exercise at all, or I exercise excessively. I always think that because I used to run five miles a day (ten years ago) that running three miles a day is moderate. But I forget that I need to WORK up to that and I don't have to run EVERYDAY. So now, I am hobbling around, alternating ice packs between my ankles and wishing I knew how to be a little less extreme. Maybe God is trying to tell me something, like SLOW DOWN! Today, I can...but who knows what tomorrow will bring. Weekends with three busy kids can get hectic. Wish me luck!

Some Days Are Just Like That

Yesterday I had the opportunity to say the Serenity Prayer a lot. The first time was in the doctor's office with Katie and Andrew for their annual well check-ups. Their doctor no longer will see more than two kids from the same family at the same time, so I was already a little perturbed that Nicholas had to go the next day (Pete's taking him this time). Our appointment time was 8:30 and by 9:20 we were still in the room waiting for the doctor to come in. I was growing angrier by the minute because I did not want the kids to be counted absent from school and they have to be there at 10:00 or they will be. Katie and Andrew brought things to keep them busy, but they started complaining about the wait, too. I said the Serenity Prayer several times until the doctor finally showed up and the whole check-up for both kids only took fifteen minutes. They arrived at school around 9:55, just in the knick of time.
The next challenge of the day occured while I was in the carpool line waiting for the kids to get out of school. Most of the time I am first in line (sometimes second). I would much rather wait in the heat than have the kids stand around after school for a long time waiting for me, so I take my crossword puzzle and book to help pass the time, or make phone calls to friends. Well, I was first in line until ten minutes before dismissal when a mom in a big suburban drove up and weaseled her way into the small space in front of me. Oh, how I wanted to get out of my car, march up to her window and give her a piece of my mind. How dare she cut in front of me when I had been waiting nearly an hour sweating like a pig! But, again I said the Serenity Prayer and was able to refrain from my urge to act out.
When we got home from school and the kids started on their homework (which they have to do right after school in our house), Nicholas did NOT want to do his. Personally I can't believe how much homework he has as a first grader. Things have changed since Andrew was in the same class. I'm talking two or three worksheets a day, spelling homework, reading vocabulary and memorizing a poem to recite to his teacher! That alone is cause for the Serenity Prayer. Anyway, poor Nicholas had had it with the whole homework thing yesterday and he burst into tears of frustration and wouldn't let up. Nothing rips a mother's heart apart more than an upset, sobbing child. I consoled him enough to get his homework done, but Nicholas had several more meltdowns that evening. The whole thing was exhausting.
So exhausting, in fact, that I didn't have the time or energy to cook dinner, which leads to the next challenge of my day. We went to the drive-through at Dairy Queen to order our dinner. After I had placed our order, I was driving up to the window when a guy in a brand new red sports car zoomed right in front of me and cut. 'What's with all the cutting today?' I thought, when I really wanted to get out of my car and give him a piece of my mind. The kids went ballistic as they complained about the gall of that young, selfish kid. I said the Serenity Prayer again, but by this time I was spent. I could not refrain myself from honking at him (at least I didn't get out of my car and go to his window to chew him out like I wanted to do). Anyway, when I honked, he flipped me off. Luckily the kids didn't see, but I couldn't believe it. When I got up to the window I asked the girl why he had cut (he drove off without getting anything). She said he claimed he had given her a hundred dollar bill, but she had given him change for a ten. She also said that wasn't true and we both agreed he should have gotten out of his car and gone in, the selfish, lazy...AHEM, never mind.
After all of these challenges yesterday, I was exhausted and climbed into bed at 9:00, wanting to end the disastrous day. Some days are just like that. How are you today?

A Brand New Day

...whatever is true...whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely...think about such things...put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
~Philippians 4:8-9

I have peace today. My peace doesn't come from material things, like a big mansion or fancy car. It does not come from a show I might put on to impress people. Rather, my peace comes from within. Knowing that God is in control of my life, living for the moment instead of ruing over the past or fretting about the future- these are all tools I use to find inner peace. I am so grateful for my serenity. People might try to break my peace, but I remind myself that humans are all fallible. Only God is perfect. So if I feel vexed at some point in the day, I simply pause and ask for God's will to be done and say the Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Try this simple prayer in your daily struggles. It really does work. May you have peace and joy within today. It's a brand new day- let's make it a great one!