Help Wanted for today :(
Writing a blog may be dangerous. Some days I think that I am probably repeating wisdom on the same few struggles because I personally have not had complete victory over them yet. I wonder what themes I would find if I went back and read my previous months posts in succession. Too bad I don’t have time for that! My guess is that it would be filled with the mantra of “Don’t allow the world to dictate your life” and “Focus on what truly matters.” After writing a Bible study that included both of those topics and teaching on it for two years, I am ready to have victory in those areas and move on to another battle.Last night I was in a foul mood when I got home. Chris was so sweet and cautiously encouraged me. If you are a woman and you have been in a foul mood lately, you will understand why caution was important. The day had not gone as planned and the night paid the price for it. As I finished my last week of teaching Miss Perfect this semester, I drove home full of both love and frustration. It was an amazing group of women this semester and God exceeded my expectations. Yet, overriding my love was frustration about the way the day had unfolded and how it impacted our last session. There were things I wanted to say that I did not. There were things I wanted to ask that were left unasked. Sadly, I was disappointed that my last session of Miss Perfect did not go perfectly. Such disgusting irony that I do not want to fall prey to any longer!I hoped to wake up in a better mood, but somehow the grumpies did not leave with the darkness. I kept wondering why I was so frustrated. I wanted to be mad at Mark for a last minute change in schedule. I wanted to be mad at the basketball coach for never ending practice on time… let alone 45 minutes late. I wanted to be mad at Chris for not remembering to clear his calendar and be available to get the kids on nights when I teach. Then it occurred to me…. The problem lives in me.A dozen people would have been willing to help me at any point along the way, if only I had asked. Chris would have rearranged things, if only I had said something. I could have said no to a change of plans. Friends would have helped salvage the schedule. Sometimes we want so badly to point a finger at someone else when circumstances don’t go our way, but we must look in the mirror.Is there a place in your life right now that repeatedly is a source of frustration? If so, is it possible that it falls into the category of a problem that lives in you? What situations do you put yourself in that lead to consistent frustration? Where do you allow an unhealthy thought patterns to continue? Acknowledging the real issue is the first step to victory. Step 2 next week, but in the meantime let me know if this hits close to home.