A Murphy's Law-kind-of-day

It's been one of those mornings.  You know:  the Murphy's Law kind.  Nothing horrible but just irritating and frustrating.  We just got home from a wonderful week with the Florida Heatherly's, so I was pretty much "set up" for something, if you know what I mean...kind of like the day after Christmas or first day after vacation ends.  When you've had lots of fun and been extra happy, you are bound to be a little let-down...so Murphy's Law catches you a little quicker, I think.

I set out early to accomplish my to-do list:  pick up mail at PO; take watch for repair (again) and discuss why other repair was done, without an estimate first, as requested; get tea from McDonald's (you know me and my tea!); pick up tax packet from CPA; go to grocery store.

So here's a short version of what happened:  in the mail was a corrected form to submit to CPA (after CPA has already finished preparing the taxes!) ...not good...jeweler got the watch going quickly (good!) but copped an attitude when I asked why he repaired the other one without calling me with an estimate first.  He tried to blame his worker for it, then tried the guilt-trip thing with me ("you can pay or not, you decide"...then took the Lord's name in vain.  I chose not to pay.  I'll discuss this with hubby and get back to you on what our final decision is :(  Part of me thinks I made a good decision; the other part of me wonders.  Guess I'll be finding another jeweler either way.

Then, on to McDonald's for my half sweet/half unsweetened tea, with three lemon slices.  Drive-thru only since they are under construction.  So, I park to doctor my tea, and guess what?  It's VERY sweet.  Oh well, I can handle this.  No big deal.  I just need a little totally unsweet to add to it...and mission accomplished.  Around I go, through the drive-thru again, and the nice little man apologizes and says, no indeed, you get a whole new tea on the house!  And with smiles, no less. 

On west to the CPA's.  I presented the corrected forms and luckily, the form was identical to the one I had taken earlier; so no changes were necessary!  This day is getting better!  Then, before I drove back home, I opened the tax package and noted we owe the Federal government a sizable amount, the State of Tennessee a sizable amount, and each quarter through next January we owe sizable amounts!  Boo and hiss.  Not good.  Social security did us in!  Good problem, though, all in all.   I do like getting my little check each month :)

I am glad to report that nothing bad happened at the grocery store.  I stocked up, paid, and got home without a single incident.

All this to say, irritating things happened, but it's all ok.  I listened all morning to my Christian CDs as I drove about, and they spoke to me in a positive way, as usual.  It made me realize how small my irritations were, in the larger scope of things.  I recalled a message from our good friend Tommy G a few weeks ago, and with his permission, I'll share a lesson he learned and passed on to me, for such a time as this:

"Here is an experience I had the other day as I was trying to put Max down for a nap.  He had been running around all morning and playing hard - so we put a baby DVD into the player to let him watch as he dozed off.  Well that didn't happen.  So I picked him  up and laid him against me and put my arms around him.  Well, he still wanted to get up and take off, so I just hugged him a little closer and he was asleep within 5 minutes.  Here is what I learned from my grandson:  In my life, I am running around all day and playing hard; and Jesus says, 'Tommy, sit down and smell the roses.' But I am so busy I don't really do that.  So He picks me up and holds me against His chest and He lets me struggle a little, but then He pulls me closer, and I feel His breathing and it puts me at ease.  Before I know it, I am completely relaxed and lost in Him (just as Max was so sound asleep and at peace in my arms.)  So this little experience with Max brought home to me that if we will just let go, we can be at complete peace and be at rest in the arms of the One who loves us so."

So, next time I find myself in situations like I experienced today, I'll think of Tommy's story and its moral...and how blessed I am...and loved...and how little bitty my "problems" really are.  I'll slow down, smell those roses, quit struggling and just rest and relax in peace...the peace that passes understanding.  I'll keep playing my music and listening for its messages to me. And being grateful for good friends who point me to Jesus, who is the answer to everything we face, big or small.