A day unlike any other...

Have you ever listened to the alarm go off, hit the snooze and prayed for another hour of sleep? I know I have and today was one of those days. At 4:45 a.m. the alarm woke me so after letting the dogs out and getting the coffee ready I snuggled back onto the couch after seeing all the beautiful white snow covering everything outside. I wonder…will we have a delay?

I laid there “thinking” about what needed to be done:
*What chapters will I read today in my Bible? My goal is to try and catch up on my “Read the Bible in a Year” plan (I know, not a good sign if I am already behind, lol)
*I need to start the laundry and do the dishes.
*What should I bring with me to work on during lunch today?
*It’s payday…what bills need to be paid?
*I don’t hear Mary’s alarm going off, I better wake her.

Then it happened, the school delays started. At first not too close and then the majority of our neighboring districts delayed. I reset my alarm and went back to sleep until 6 a.m. Once our local B.O.C.E.S. delayed I figured it was only a matter of time. BUT this was not the case. Ugh…I went from making my mental list of all I could accomplish during the one or two hour delay to the frazzled and rushed Mom who let the house sleep in.

Ed not only made it to work on time, he shoveled a walkway and a path for Mary to get on the bus before leaving. Mary functions well in a moment’s notice on school mornings so she was good BUT then there is me. I get up at least three hours before I need to be at school. I like to ease into my day with a cup of coffee and my Bible. This did not happen. Between the rushed feelings this morning and my lack of Bible reading and prayer time – the morning was off to a rough start.

Thanks and apologies to my friends at school who listened as I unloaded my morning on them. Within moments, I was laughing and they talked me down. I didn’t need to hang on to this stress alone. There was no need for me to dangle with no safety net. With friends praying for me instantly, others figuring out a way to solve a problem I was having, and God who wrapped His arms around me as I snuck away to let the tears flow.

Once home from school the laundry, dirty dishes, and tumbleweed dust bunnies were still waiting for me – along with the grocery list and Mother Hubbard’s bare cupboards. So before picking up my daughter from school I picked up the bulk of the groceries and paid a bill. She helped me bring in the groceries when we got home before joining her Dad, Uncle, and friend for a basketball game.

“Lisa, do you want to go to the game?”
“Are you kidding, I have too much to do. And this doesn’t even include any of my writing, speaking or reading projects on the calendar.”
“Okay, then we’re off.”

So hours later, the house is quiet and welcoming. My heart is still uneasy…maybe I should have rested in the Word instead of cleaning the house? Duh…this is an easy question, now. Thank goodness tomorrow is a new day.

I was a poor example for Christ today through my vents, unloading, and lack of respect and restraint to speak kind words. I recognize the emotions and moodiness, ones I thought were made new when I accepted Christ. I AM a new creation yet I am human. The reason I share this with you today is as an encouragement. I honestly wanted to snuggle under the covers and call it a day but thankfully I didn't. Instead I prayed while I cleaned and apologies were exchanged. A reminder I NEED JESUS and some sleep, feeling better already. 

Food for thought and/or discussion:
1) Have you ever found yourself in the “martyr/woe is me/I have to do it all” mindset? Have you vented and transitioned from a loving person to a moody and ill-driven female for the betterment of the home? How did you feel once alone? 

2) Is there a verse to two of Scripture you find helpful when this mood hits? I encourage you to share them on today’s blog to help your sisters and brothers-in-Christ when our days like this seem to take us over. God’s Word is living and active, sharper than any double edge sword – let us use it to spur one another on.

---

"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
   do not fret—it leads only to evil. "
Psalm 37:8