This is a time when there are many big problems in the world….and what I am about to tell you is nothing compared to car crashes, shootings, stimulus packages or the terrible hunger and abuse all over the world. Those things I pray about and seem to weather the big things in my life pretty well.
However, it might be fun for you to relate to one day I had recently. I woke up feeling ‘not too hot’…..but oh, well, this is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. So I just knew that some coffee would help–my one cup a day habit. Wrong! OK, just keep going…..dive into the bookwork that has been hanging like an old fashioned hang-man’s noose over my head for weeks.
Everyone has to do their taxes soooooo…..well, this year for me was a nightmare because my desk top computer with my bookkeeping information went out. The program I use is so ‘touchy’ I had to install the same program into the laptop before it would work, and then it still would not bring up the months I had carefully saved. “Backed-up” is a terribly overrated term…..especially when you deal with older equipment and the new things don’t mesh with old stuff….oh, I know that is about progress.
Well, as I tackled this ‘do or die’ effort I needed information from my bank. Since I do some banking on line, no sweat. Wrong again. This was the day they chose to mandate a new security system, or I wouldn’t be allowed access to my account. That won’t take long–again thanking God in all things…..after all they are protecting me. Then came the questions I must answer for them to keep on file–they need three to five on record:
- What was my grandfather’s mother’s first name? I am 75…..I hardly remember my grandfather.
- What was the name of my first grade teacher? Are you kidding me?
- What did I name my first pet? Now, I am really laughing……
- What was my first job? I do remember that–Cashier at Montgomery Wards for $32.50 a week ,who could forget !
- What is my spouse’s maiden name? Since I was the spouse….that isn’t going to work either!
I finally managed to answer three out of the ten and then I had to choose an animal and a one or two line phrase …..OK, we are almost through….whew…..and WHAM, the screen disappeared and a box came up saying there was a glitch and I would have to start over….not only that my time was up! So I had to sign in again. I mumbled some rather dubious words and did the whole thing again. Well, now it is done and I can proceed on.
My columns did not line up on the work sheet. The figures did not balance as I put two parts of the year together with some automatic things that had to be added. By three in the afternoon I had papers everywhere and could hardly remember what I needed to do next. Of course there was a call about a survey, and another one about the warranty on my car that is 20 years old, you know, just to keep me busy–and I am on the ‘do not call’ list for Telemarketing.
I had prayer requests on my mind, and couldn’t shake the feeling that I just have too much to do…..and what do I do about that?
At 5:30 I decided I needed to stop for dinner…..put fish in the broiler, and vegis in my favorite oven-proof casserole (that I have used for years) in the oven. Went to answer the door, and my small four pound cuter-than the Beverly Hills Chihuahua, ran between my feet after the cat in the drive way. The cat probably weighs 4 times as much and is an outdoor cat–one swipe would handle my ferocious little guardian of the homestead. Screaming and yelling I chase the dog who is chasing the cat who is finally a half block away. In utter frustration I yell…..”Stop in the Name of Jesus!” And my dog did! I truly thank God for His Angels!
The man at the door was not for me…..the fish was burned……I emptied the casserole on my plate and set it in the sink and it crashed in a hundred pieces. I have used this for years and NOW it breaks…..from refrigerator to oven and back again and now it breaks. So of course I cleaned all the pieces….however some went into my garbage disposal and when I thought I had it all, I tried the switch but the disposal would no longer work.
I ate what was left of my dinner, turned on my TV to find the cord was broken and I had to jiggle it over and over to get it to stay. There were other little things that happened, just too painful to remember them…..I collapsed into bed and told the Lord I just knew the next day would be better……..
I know you can relate….we all have them….days where everything goes wrong……looking back it is like a grade C comedy. The next day was better…..Joy comes in the morning and my thanks to God were really from my heart more than habit! I sure hope He laughs at us, we can be pretty funny!
Pressing in and pressing on…..