simple things

Last week, I got schooled by my husband and, I have to say, it’s the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. Because my husband is working on his health, he’s often fixing his own meals; including lots of fruits and vegetables and the occasional frozen entrée.  That leaves the rest of us to eat whatever we want. This past weekend, I stopped at the local grocery store because I was craving a steak; a big, old, tender piece of meat. When I got home, I couldn’t wait to fire up the George Foreman. As the scent of the deliciousness filled the air, my salivary glands kicked into high gear. I couldn’t wait to eat.

When the steak was grilled to medium-rare perfection, I took a bite ready to savor every delectable bit. But instead of the lusciousness I was expecting, I got a mouthful of chew. I was so frustrated. I’d paid good money for this steak; how dare it be chewy. The first thing that came out of my mouth was, “Wow. This meat is really tough.” My husband who had just finished his frozen box dinner looked at me in surprise. “When did you become so picky about your food?”

There went my complaining out the window. He was right. When had I become this finicky? Millions of kids all over the world would have gladly traded their hunger pains for my dinner. And, it got me to thinking, what other things do I complain about as being sub-par. In this case, it was my dinner, but I’m pretty sure food isn’t the only thing I grumble about when things aren’t quite up to my standards.

Like the stop light that seems to last for hours.

Or the kid at the drive-thru who gets my order wrong.

Not enough money in our bank account.

Or the fact that my car isn’t the fastest or coolest on the block.

The t-shirt that doesn’t last as long as I think it should.

And, this one really gets to me, my slow computer.

The list could go on and on; I’m barely scratching the surface. What, indeed, has made me so darn picky and so unappreciative?  For me, what it all boils down to is discontent. I have so much, and, yet, I want so much more. So many gifts are given to me every day that, sometimes, I forget my manners – simple thanks to the Giver of all good things. If I sat down and wrote a list of all my daily blessings, there wouldn’t be enough books in the world to contain them.

The air I breathe.

The sun’s majestic rise and fall.

Spring showers.

The abundance of food in my pantry and freezer.

May flowers.

Happy and healthy kids.

A spouse who supports and encourages me to follow my dreams.

I think you get the point. So, this week, a challenge. The moment you begin to gripe or complain about something because it’s not quite what you wanted, remember the simple things. Simple things that we all take for granted. Simple things that come from the bounty of all the Lord blesses us with each and every day.

Little House in the Suburbs

When I was a little kid, I loved reading the Little House on the Prairie books. Even at a young age, I found myself enthralled with a world that was so different from my own. Their lives seemed so simple, so happy, so fun. I wanted to be a part of it. So much so that I wondered whether God had put me in the wrong century. I wanted to chop wood and bake bread and sew my own clothes.

Realistically, I know that if I went back to that period in history I would last about a day. And now that I’m a grown-up, I know better than to long for a place in history different from my own. I was born in the twentieth century and figure I was put in this time and place for a reason. But there are still days when I wish I was Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Last week, I got a little taste of what life would have been like in that time period. No, I wasn’t living in a little house on a barren, windswept plain. But, I was living without power and would for most of the day. It went out early in the morning as I was lying comfortably under our down comforter. The lights flashed and, just like that, our electricity went out. ‘No biggie,’ I thought to myself, ‘It will come back on shortly’. But, after about thirty minutes, it was apparent that the power wasn’t coming on anytime soon.

So at 6:00 in the morning, I scrambled to find a flashlight, which of course was missing from the drawer where it was supposed to be. Ever the resourceful one, my husband found a camping light and hung it from a ceiling fan. It cast a weird, eerie glow but it would have to do until the sun came up.

The second order of business; how were we going to make it through the day without heat?  Thankfully, the switch to our gas fireplace turned the fire on. Pretty soon, we had a warm and cozy spot to contemplate what kind of plans we could make for the day ahead.

We had no TV, I couldn’t do any of the chores on my list without electricity, so the kids and I lay in front of the fire and did something very unusual. We talked. Next, we had game time which didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. Connect Four was a hit for all of two minutes. Then we tried Operation which, even after we’d changed the batteries, didn’t work. Finally, we got out the cards and Jack and I played a viciously competitive game of Go Fish.

When the kids began to get restless, I bundled them up and sent them outside to play. Meanwhile, I tried to figure out how I was going to keep the food in the fridge and freezer from going bad. Buckets of snow seemed like a good way to go, but when I checked the fridge it was barely cool. So I went for option number two; put the fridge food in a Rubbermaid and the freezer goods in a cooler and set them both out in the snow. Worked like a charm. 

After lunch, which was a simple fair, we watched a movie in the car. Since we have a gas range, I was able to cook on the stovetop and made popcorn for a special treat. As the afternoon wore on, I kept hoping that the power would return. Unfortunately, when I listened to the radio, they announced that the power for some would not be turned back on until Saturday morning.

At that point, we were ready to get out of the house. We drove over to the local Godfather’s and commiserated with our fellow neighbors who had also lost power. Again, the reports there confirmed my fears. We would probably not have power for another day.

I headed home determined to make a not-so-good situation into a day of blessing. And, wouldn’t you know it, just as we were preparing a cozy little nest in front of the fireplace, the power came back on. The kids and I did a little happy dance. I turned up the furnace, and, that night, we were able to sleep all snuggled up in our own beds.

While I realize this experience was a far cry from a true little prairie house day, I couldn’t help but feel some kinship with those settlers of old who had none of the modern conveniences we have and seemed to live a full and happy life anyway. All in all, it was a good day. You might even say a great day. So much so, that the next time the power goes out, I’ll be ready, maybe even happy to go without it -  at least for a day. And if that day never comes, I can always make a trip to the basement and cut the power myself. Connect Four, anyone?

Sudden, Dramatic, Complete

Do you ever feel like nothing about life will EVER change that it just keeps going on and on – a pattern or routine that will never be disrupted.  I know I felt like this, especially when I was little.  Life moved so slowly.  I wanted to be taller, or older, able to do things I wasn’t allowed to do at my age.  The days seemed to crawl by. 

That was then, and this is now.  Now that I am older and wiser I try to cherish each day knowing all too well that I will never get it back.  I guess I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit because I’ve realized that  all of a sudden my babies have grown into kids, and I’m left wondering how it happened.  Of course I realize they grow every day, but it happens in such small ways.   It’s hard to see the change taking place before my very eyes because it’s so miniscule.  And I realize that all these small changes add up to one big change – a sudden, dramatic, complete one.   I know I’ve shared this quote before, but I think it’s worth resharing:

Thus God works out His own high purposes slowly as it seems oftentimes, but surely and with unerring wisdom until all things being done, the end is sudden, dramatic, complete.  ~ Cynthia Heald

Back when I was a teacher it seemed like that was what I would always be.  Despite the stress and load of work, I loved it.  Then I left to stay at home with my kids, and, just like that, my teaching days were over.  To this day when fall begins and teachers prepare for the new school year, I miss it; the newness of it all, the camaraderie, the staff, the students.  I miss it all.  And I realize that I will never get that season of life back.   Now that I’m trying to make writing my career, I realize in all likelihood I will never again teach in a classroom.  It makes me sad.  But you know what makes me even sadder?   The fact that I took some of it for granted. 

Another example of taking things for granted happened during my single years.  When I was in college, I fully expected to be married by the time I graduated.  When that milestone came and passed I thought, ‘Well, maybe my mid twenties.’ Those came and went too.  As I got closer to that magic age of 30, I wondered if I would ever be married and have kids of my own.   But God was working on my heart, and I began to realize something.  While there was a large part of me that wished I was married, I would never be able to get those years of being single back.  From then on, I worked hard to appreciate that very special time in my life. 

Once I was married, I realized what a gift I’d been given.   As a single person, I had made some very dear friends.  I had traveled, taken backpacking trips.  I stayed up late when I wanted to, slept in, ate cereal for dinner when I didn’t feel like making anything.  Life was simpler then.  It was all about me; my time, my life.  No one else to be accountable to.   That was a precious time. 

Now, being married and having young kids I try to make each day count.  Yes, the house isn’t as clean as I’d like it to be.  Yes, there are days the kids drive me batty.  Yes, it would be so easy to think, “If only they were a little bit older . . . ,”  But when I catch myself thinking these things I stop and remind myself, they will never be small again.  I will never get these days back.  In fact there are moments when I wish my babies would still be - my babies.  Already I’m beginning to wonder, ‘How did they grow up so fast?’   

I had a dear friend in high school whose mom gave the best advice I’ve ever been given. ‘ Don’t wish any part of your life away.  You will never get it back.  Make the most of each day.  Make each day count.’  Hope this is encouragement for you.  Treasure each day.  Treasure your loved ones.  Treasure the priceless gift of now.  Make every moment count.

Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:12