All it Took was a Text Message

Feeling overwhelmed? I was recently. Everything in life was fine, then wham! Out of the blue my emotions went from happy to verbal outrage all in the time it takes to read a text.

I had been looking forward to celebrating my friend’s birthday for several weeks. Along with several other people in the writing group we had planned to honor her during our group meeting, which was the actual day of her birthday and it was St. Valentines Day, what better day to express love to a friend and fellow writer.

My friend is a cat lover and a collector of heart shaped objects. After a fruitless search through the selection of greeting cards at a local store I decided on making my own, not that I’m wonderful in the hand-made card department but at least it would be made with love.

The weekend before the Tuesday we were to meet I set about making the card. Having once been interested in scrapbooking I still had the tools and pretty paper in my home. The card looked pretty when finished with a Hallmark heart shaped gift tag taking center stage. I wrote words from my heart to hers, hopefully conveying the respect and admirations I held for her. There was no way I was going to miss this celebration.

Or so I thought!

I heard my phone ding as I drove to church Monday evening where I was studying Lysa TerKeurst book Uninvited with some other women. The phone would have to wait until I got to the parking lot. Once parked I picked up my phone and there was a message from my daughter asking if I could look after my nineteen month old grand-daughter  on Tuesday. ALL DAY! Apparently she had a temperature in daycare so could not return for twenty four hours.

I stared at the text while my mouth screamed NOooooooo! Wednesday, Thursday or Friday yes, but Tuesday, celebration of my friend Tuesday. Why couldn’t she have her one off temp another day? Of course I was going to help my full time working daughter out and take care of my sweet grand-daughter, family comes before birthday celebrations, right?

Knowing the right thing to do did not help with the feeling that the rug had just been pulled out from under me. One minute I was invited, the next I became uninvited through circumstances. I was in a huff, not with my daughter or grand-daughter but with life itself.

Two hours! Why couldn’t I be guaranteed just two hours once a month to do something for myself. I know you know what I’m talking about.  As mothers and grand-mothers we get pulled in every direction always putting family first. My mind continued to race even as we sang the worship song. Somewhere during the song I sensed a quietening of my emotions as I focused my thoughts towards the Lord.

As the teaching video played and Lysa talked about the goodness of God my raging emotions continued to calm. Was I suddenly happy about the situation? No, but I was experiencing peace as He was quieted me with His love and He continued to do so right through Tuesday. My grand-daughter and I had a wonderful day together.

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

I will probably have to wait until I get to heaven to know why of all the days in the month my grand-daughter had to have a temperature on the Monday before celebration Tuesday. This however I do know, when my flesh is throwing a wobbly over anything no matter how big or small the deal, if I take it to the Lord and place it at His feet fixing my thoughts on Him and His truth. His love will quiet me.

Let His love quiet you today as you focus your thoughts on Him.

Until next week

Helena

Looking to Jesus. Living in His Radiance.

Feel free to share this post with a friend or two, we all have those moments when our plans get squashed and our emotions throw us off course.