For your consideration…
I had to laugh at the example I was given for today’s message. It is the tale of two daughters. I have been blessed with two smart, hard-working, accomplished daughters but they are very different. Daughter number one is very mild-mannered and easy-going. She isn’t a doormat by any means but she holds her tongue and evaluates first. It is not easy to engage her in an argument. The one and only time she lost her temper in the 20 years her children have been in school is legendary was last year. She was horrified but all of the other parents fell in love with her even more. And that is exactly how things go with her. Normally she bides her time and sure enough, everything turns around her way.
Daughter number two is probably more like me and a little bit of a scrapper. Things don’t really build up with us because we are quick to address them at the moment and move on. Admittedly waiting for all the facts would serve us better. It is a learning process.
So the example I was given today was from an incident that happened yesterday. Daughter number two comes in with 3 pieces of laundry that “are ruined.” “See” she says. ‘This is why I always want to do my own laundry here.” One top had a grease stain on it. And two other pieces had dye from other clothing.
“I didn’t wash those,” I told her.
“No, I know you didn’t but it is your washer and dryer. I don’t even sort my clothes at home and this never happens.”
I could see that none of this had happened in the washing machine. But I didn’t say anything. Instead, I put my homemade stain remover on them and rewashed them. Sure enough. Everything is perfect again.
“Wow, how did you do that?” She asked me.
I told her and showed her where the recipe is. Then I said, what I was biting my tongue from saying last night. “This did not happen in the washing machine. These clothes were put in a hamper with other wet clothes and bled on each other. I never put wet clothes in a hamper.”
So that is the moral of the story. Sometimes we win when we don’t engage and let life unfold. I love this quote:
The moment you feel like you need to prove yourself
is the moment you need to be silent and walk away…Rachel Wolchin
That is the HOPE. And so it is.
Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…
-Affirm…“I am loved.”
-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”
-Drink lots of water.
-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.
-Remember we don’t have to always have to engage in an argument.
What made me smile yesterday…
-A beautiful sunny day.
-Sprinklers turned on for the season.
-Dogs shots updated for the year.
-It was Mary’s birthday and we had her and Don over for dinner and cake.
-Finished a good book.
Love, Blessings, and Gratitude,
Rev. Chris
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