What’s Really Important
Some days I think I really suck. Maybe you can relate. I get bogged down in “woe-is-me”-ing because I can’t keep up with my laundry or because we can’t afford to finish our basement or landscape right now or because I seem to have lost touch with many of my friends. Poor me! This week I’ve been annoyed because all of the road closings have caused complete gridlock on my route to work, and it takes me an hour instead of the usual 15–20 minutes.
(Photo courtesy of the Des Moines Register)
Seriously, how selfish am I???
My beautifully humble state has been filled with destruction and tragedy from tornadoes and flooding. People have lost their homes and even their loved ones. People I know. My brother-in-law’s aunt and uncle lost their brand-new home when it was swept away by a river. My aunt and uncle, who live right next to Parkersburg, are helping family members and best friends deal with the complete loss of their homes to the tornado that ripped through their town. A girl at church last night said that her nephew was one of the Boy Scouts staying at the camp in Sioux City that got hit by the powerful tornado that killed four boys. Fortunately, he survived, but I’m sure he has emotional scars he will carry for the rest of his life.
Kinda makes the ink stain on my carpet pale in comparison.
I know selfishness is part of our nature. We can thank Adam and Eve for that. But sometimes it seems that God has to hit us over the head with, say, a 500-year flood or a 145-mph-tornado to get us to wake up and realize what’s really important.
So even though I have listened to my 3-almost-4-year-old screaming at me for the last 45 minutes because he wants “CARAMEL CHOCOLATE MILK!!!”, which I already gave him but he of course wants it in a different glass, and his screams have now escalated into “I hate you!”, I will now pick him up, give him a big hug and kiss, tell him I love him…and THEN put him in a time-out.
Thank you for helping me see the light too. I am also woe is me’ing a lot this past week. Too busy to enjoy the kids, too rainy to play outside, too many restless nights waiting for the tornado siren to send us to the basement. I needed you to remind me that my life is good. My family is well, my house is safe (and dry), and our local corn & bean fields are drying out.
I am thankful…
p.s. I will be your friend. 😉
(I’m coming here from An Iowa Mom)
And thank you for putting me into a different mindset! The issues I’m having with my Mom is nothing compared to what other people are going through. My prayers go out to all those dealing with the tornadoes & floods. 🙁
ok, i know i’m no prize in the friend department, but i’m around and you can talk to me whenever you want!
i get that way too. i still sometimes cry over my daughter’s diagnosis. it’s not that i want her to be different, because i don’t. i just want her life to be as easy as possible. it’s hard sometimes to put things in perspective…and it’s hard to remember that our feelings are still valid, even if it’s not about the 500 year flood. you still have a right to feel how you feel.
I’ve been really down also. I’m thinking at my age I should have so much. Nice house, debts paid off, extra money in the bank…Which none of the above is the case. Then I look around and think I have much more than that. I have 3 wonderful children and children-in-laws and even better 6 beautiful grandchildren, all healthy and safe.
I have a house even if it isn’t the one I want…it isn’t flooded or blown away. You are so Right!!
Now, I need to go do my laundry and clean my house BUT NO…I am going to go golfing with my grandson…who beat me the last 9 holes!! )
You go, Gmawheezy!!!
Aren’t we blessed?
Wow–I’m so glad I could make an impact on some of you! And it’s nice to meet a new friend, mom of two princesses! Can’t wait to check out your site!
Gmawheezy–so glad you figured out how to comment! 🙂 And glad you’re having fun with Boy #1!
Yep, it’s all about keeping it in perspective, isn’t it?
I always try to remember that too.