Flexibility - characterized by a ready capability to adapt to new, different, or changing requirements.
What a word. There are a couple of definitions for this doozy - yielding to influence, pliant, elastic, etc., but this is the one I liked best. Simply because it sums up so succinctly (try saying that 3 times fast) my most recent attempts to improve an area where I could use some refinement. Yup, I admit it - I am not the most flexible person on earth. I try to be accomodating. I even succeed at times...albeit trying really, REALLY hard. But in terms of the whole natural reaction thing? Nah. Not a great area to be lacking in when you have kids. Which is why I rely on my wonderful husband, who is blessed with an easygoing nature that could weather a couple of nuclear disasters with ease, to reign me in when I find myself "pinging" (his word, not mine, yet I find it pretty accurate, LOL).
But, unfortunately, my man is out of town on another trip, and I have decided to take advantage of his absence to try and at least somewhat corral my inane desire for everything to operate on a rigid schedule. See, if I have him here to help, then I know I probably won't put my back into the effort, you know? So I chose Resurrection Sunday as my starting point (thinking, in my head, what better day for change?) and went to bed, determined that I would begin my transformation into the flexible mother of my dreams.
Yet, like all things that I struggle with, it seems that the moment I begin to consciously work on my shortcomings is when I get hit with every single thing that could possibly make me flip my lid! I woke up the next morning to find that I had less than an hour to get the kids up and all of us out the door for church - my alarm didn't go off because I accidentally set it for "p.m." instead of "a.m." (for the record, it usually takes me about an hour and a half to get us all out the door on Sundays). I go racing down the hall, waking the kids up, only to find that Isabella had somehow managed to leak through her diaper and soak her sheets and pajamas. Great. Now I am rushing one child into the bathtub while dragging the other two out of their comfy beds, while alternately trying not to trip on Johnny's giant SpongeBob Squarepants - not an easy feat, since I have not yet managed to pop in my contacts, without which I am blind as a bat. At this point, the drill sergeant lurking in my psyche (I try to suppress her, really) was beginning to make her grand entrance. By the time I realized that I was losing my battle with flexibility, I was already barking orders to my boys to have themselves ready for inspection while on all fours looking for Isabella's hair brush under her changing table - at which point she accidentally conked me on the head with the picture frame next to her. We eventually made it to the car and onto the highway, where I promptly hit a traffic jam (likely comprised of all the other late people) and was almost sideswiped by a trolley full of tourists. When I finally pulled into the church parking lot, I was cranky, irritable, and not in the mood to celebrate anything - especially since I felt like I had just majorly bombed in my resolution on the very first day!
What a blessing that God always knows when you are floundering. Our pastor, while discussing the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, remarked on God's never-failing patience and forgiveness. That despite our failings as human beings, He is always constant and seeking to assist us in the areas where we need help. One of the verses he quoted hit me right in the heart:
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Whoa. Something I have heard countless times, yet there is such a difference when it strikes you on a personal level. Funny how I can often start my days off with the best of intentions, yet many times will allow the smallest break in routine or a few unexpected obstacles to dictate my attitude. Even I can tell that this habit does not exactly facilitate my desire to develop the mind, heart, and attitude of Christ in the things that I do. Talk about humbling. So the question I had to ask myself is, what was I going to do about it?
The only thing I could do - give it over to God. Let Him help me. Stop trying to do it on my own, and allow room for human error. Wow, I walked out of the service feeling SO much better - not because I thought that I would no longer struggle with this particular issue, but because of the timely reminder that God is always in control...especially when I am not! And while I will probably never be the poster child for flexiblity, I can take joy in the fact that God does see my efforts, and has His own plan in motion to help me be the person He wants me to be...poopy diapers and all.
What more could I possibly ask for?
What a word. There are a couple of definitions for this doozy - yielding to influence, pliant, elastic, etc., but this is the one I liked best. Simply because it sums up so succinctly (try saying that 3 times fast) my most recent attempts to improve an area where I could use some refinement. Yup, I admit it - I am not the most flexible person on earth. I try to be accomodating. I even succeed at times...albeit trying really, REALLY hard. But in terms of the whole natural reaction thing? Nah. Not a great area to be lacking in when you have kids. Which is why I rely on my wonderful husband, who is blessed with an easygoing nature that could weather a couple of nuclear disasters with ease, to reign me in when I find myself "pinging" (his word, not mine, yet I find it pretty accurate, LOL).
But, unfortunately, my man is out of town on another trip, and I have decided to take advantage of his absence to try and at least somewhat corral my inane desire for everything to operate on a rigid schedule. See, if I have him here to help, then I know I probably won't put my back into the effort, you know? So I chose Resurrection Sunday as my starting point (thinking, in my head, what better day for change?) and went to bed, determined that I would begin my transformation into the flexible mother of my dreams.
Yet, like all things that I struggle with, it seems that the moment I begin to consciously work on my shortcomings is when I get hit with every single thing that could possibly make me flip my lid! I woke up the next morning to find that I had less than an hour to get the kids up and all of us out the door for church - my alarm didn't go off because I accidentally set it for "p.m." instead of "a.m." (for the record, it usually takes me about an hour and a half to get us all out the door on Sundays). I go racing down the hall, waking the kids up, only to find that Isabella had somehow managed to leak through her diaper and soak her sheets and pajamas. Great. Now I am rushing one child into the bathtub while dragging the other two out of their comfy beds, while alternately trying not to trip on Johnny's giant SpongeBob Squarepants - not an easy feat, since I have not yet managed to pop in my contacts, without which I am blind as a bat. At this point, the drill sergeant lurking in my psyche (I try to suppress her, really) was beginning to make her grand entrance. By the time I realized that I was losing my battle with flexibility, I was already barking orders to my boys to have themselves ready for inspection while on all fours looking for Isabella's hair brush under her changing table - at which point she accidentally conked me on the head with the picture frame next to her. We eventually made it to the car and onto the highway, where I promptly hit a traffic jam (likely comprised of all the other late people) and was almost sideswiped by a trolley full of tourists. When I finally pulled into the church parking lot, I was cranky, irritable, and not in the mood to celebrate anything - especially since I felt like I had just majorly bombed in my resolution on the very first day!
What a blessing that God always knows when you are floundering. Our pastor, while discussing the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, remarked on God's never-failing patience and forgiveness. That despite our failings as human beings, He is always constant and seeking to assist us in the areas where we need help. One of the verses he quoted hit me right in the heart:
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Whoa. Something I have heard countless times, yet there is such a difference when it strikes you on a personal level. Funny how I can often start my days off with the best of intentions, yet many times will allow the smallest break in routine or a few unexpected obstacles to dictate my attitude. Even I can tell that this habit does not exactly facilitate my desire to develop the mind, heart, and attitude of Christ in the things that I do. Talk about humbling. So the question I had to ask myself is, what was I going to do about it?
The only thing I could do - give it over to God. Let Him help me. Stop trying to do it on my own, and allow room for human error. Wow, I walked out of the service feeling SO much better - not because I thought that I would no longer struggle with this particular issue, but because of the timely reminder that God is always in control...especially when I am not! And while I will probably never be the poster child for flexiblity, I can take joy in the fact that God does see my efforts, and has His own plan in motion to help me be the person He wants me to be...poopy diapers and all.
What more could I possibly ask for?
1 comment:
I can truly relate to your struggle with flexibility. I am a creature of order, discipline, and cleanliness. It is hard to relax, as my husband tells me to do so, and often. But you are right, give it up to God, and He will help us grow...
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