Perspective

My husband and I went out Saturday night for our anniversary date. It's actually the first time we hired a baby sitter and one of the few times we've gone out without the two kids. My allergies were in over drive so I took two non-drowsy tablets before heading out. I wanted a good steak so we went to one of our favorite restaurants. (We normally can't afford it.) Joe's steak was over cooked and tough. The second steak they gave him nearly 20 minutes later was undercooked and lacked flavor. I have never tasted actual wallpaper paste, but I'm sure it would have the consistency and flavor as my garlic mashed potatoes. My mojito was good but other than that, dinner was a wreck.

We didn't find any movies we wanted to see so we decided to play miniature golf. It was a warm night with a cool breeze; perfect for some putt-putt. We got so lost that by the time we found the coarse, it was closed. After more driving around, Joe suggested we go walk around the big Wal-Mart the next town over. I told him I couldn't possibly cruise the Wal-Mart on our big night out. On our way to Wal-Mart, I stopped to get an iced coffee. I had been so tired, I nearly fell asleep during dinner. We paid for the iced coffee and then the cashier informed us it would be another 10 minutes; they were out.

The Wal-Mart was in the middle of putting new floors in and the whole store was loud and torn up. We left. On the way home, I apologized to Joe for being so sleepy and asked him to drive. I told him I took two of the non-drowsy allergy pills before we left. He informed me that we didn't have non-drowsy allergy pills. Mystery solved. Pulling in the driveway I thought the night was a total bust. When I walked in the house I noticed it was still standing, the kids were safe, and there were no missing beers in the fridge.

The next morning I saw a mound of dishes in my sink, overflowing laundry hampers and quickly became frustrated. Then I realized the dirty dishes meant we had food to eat. The piles of laundry meant I have a big, active family. I went from being frustrated to being very thankful.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory."
Colossians 3:1-4

Walk softly and carry a big stick...

It may be time to for a dramatic shift in power. It seems as if my stifled dictatorship is no longer effective. Maybe, dare I say, a democracy should evolve? Thanks to a new prescription, I've gained a little clarity in the ol' noggin and some perspective on the world. My world. I am beginning to decipher what is age appropriate, husband and wife appropriate, and overall what-can-be-accepted-as-the-norm.

Somewhere in this clarity I've realized the people we are most likely to clash with are those who we are most alike. In my rule as an iron fist dictator, all in the name of love of coarse, I've come to see that I have created a 6 year old daughter who is just like me. She stands firm in her belief, one of which she rules the roost. Uh oh. I've read some books, compared notes with friends and I remain calm most of the time. I just need to figure how to prove my point while teaching a good lesson and not an example of power.

A quick list from the most active part of my brain right now, the things I will pray about and work on this week, and when given the opportunity, practice:
Patience
Understanding
Compassion
Peace
Consistency
Nurturing
Teaching
Being an example.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10