|Thank you Mama Joy for the inspiration|
Yesterday was one of those days where you look up, close your eyes, and mutter, "Really, Lord? Really?" Then you open your eyes and take another step.
I started working at a pediatric office in January, and as you can probably guess the smells, sights, and sounds are never boring. I've encountered rough days where I've called people and said, "If you prayed for patience I will hurt you." However yesterday was a new level of frustration. So much so that I needed human contact for comfort. I was on my way to my fiancé's apartment and saw that Mama Joy was at Kenerly Kreations. I impulsively stopped, got out of the car, and asked if she was available. Thankfully she put her work aside and came to see me. I guess my face said it all and when I said I needed a hug, she delivered no questions asked.
We got to chatting about everything that was going on in our lives and how we were just having things pull us in all directions. I then said, "It's just been a terrible day." She stopped and told me a story:
A friend of hers (and mother to a friend of mine) had cancer. She was dying. Yet, Mrs. Anna Keith was at Ward's Fabrics so she could make her daughter a baton costume. Mrs. Joy met her at the shop and quickly began to recount what had delayed her citing one thing after another then said, "It's just been a terrible day." Mrs. Anna stopped, turned around, and said, "Joy, this is not a terrible day. You don't know what a terrible day is."
Now to some of you that may seem harsh, however; Mrs. Anna had been thru treatments, she saw her daughter and knew that her time with her was limited, and she looked death in the face... sometimes she did that all in one day. Folks, that is a terrible day. Not the locking of keys in the car, baby spit up, or even temporary frustrations at work equal a terrible day.
My entire family - and I'm sure you as well - have had a few terrible days. Death, disease, heartache, infidelity, injury, betrayal, etc. The list can go on forever. These terrible days though are few and far between. There may be a series of hard days that turns into a hard week that could even lead to a hard month, but we can't let ourselves turn our slight frustrations into terrible days.
"Self-pity is a bottomless pit. Once you fall in, you tend to go deeper and deeper into the mire. As you slide down those slippery walls, you are well on your way to depression, and the darkness is profound." -Jesus Calling, July 16
"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put there trust in the Lord." -Psalm 40:2-3
Don't fall into that slimy pit. But if you do, Jesus will help pick you up.
Live Today.
Yesterday was one of those days where you look up, close your eyes, and mutter, "Really, Lord? Really?" Then you open your eyes and take another step.
I started working at a pediatric office in January, and as you can probably guess the smells, sights, and sounds are never boring. I've encountered rough days where I've called people and said, "If you prayed for patience I will hurt you." However yesterday was a new level of frustration. So much so that I needed human contact for comfort. I was on my way to my fiancé's apartment and saw that Mama Joy was at Kenerly Kreations. I impulsively stopped, got out of the car, and asked if she was available. Thankfully she put her work aside and came to see me. I guess my face said it all and when I said I needed a hug, she delivered no questions asked.
We got to chatting about everything that was going on in our lives and how we were just having things pull us in all directions. I then said, "It's just been a terrible day." She stopped and told me a story:
A friend of hers (and mother to a friend of mine) had cancer. She was dying. Yet, Mrs. Anna Keith was at Ward's Fabrics so she could make her daughter a baton costume. Mrs. Joy met her at the shop and quickly began to recount what had delayed her citing one thing after another then said, "It's just been a terrible day." Mrs. Anna stopped, turned around, and said, "Joy, this is not a terrible day. You don't know what a terrible day is."
Now to some of you that may seem harsh, however; Mrs. Anna had been thru treatments, she saw her daughter and knew that her time with her was limited, and she looked death in the face... sometimes she did that all in one day. Folks, that is a terrible day. Not the locking of keys in the car, baby spit up, or even temporary frustrations at work equal a terrible day.
My entire family - and I'm sure you as well - have had a few terrible days. Death, disease, heartache, infidelity, injury, betrayal, etc. The list can go on forever. These terrible days though are few and far between. There may be a series of hard days that turns into a hard week that could even lead to a hard month, but we can't let ourselves turn our slight frustrations into terrible days.
"Self-pity is a bottomless pit. Once you fall in, you tend to go deeper and deeper into the mire. As you slide down those slippery walls, you are well on your way to depression, and the darkness is profound." -Jesus Calling, July 16
"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put there trust in the Lord." -Psalm 40:2-3
Don't fall into that slimy pit. But if you do, Jesus will help pick you up.
Live Today.
