A Mrs. Potato Head kind of day

A picture is worth a thousand words, or so they say.  Ever felt like this picture?  Yup, we all have.  More than likely,  we will continue to have those kinds of days.  

The kind of day where:

~the kids are going in a hundred different directions, but not the direction you had intended

~you have way too much on your plate, and too little time to do it

~the bills are coming, but the paycheck is not

~everybody is making messes and no one is cleaning them up

~you and your spouse (or parent, child, or boss) don't see eye to eye

There are a million and one different reasons why any day can become a Mrs. Potato Head day.  I am sure you have your own reason, that you could add to this list.  Some have dire consequences, some are just annoyances that we let get in our way.  But the point is, we are going to have 'those' days.

My two year old grand daughter was the one who put Mrs. Potato Head together in the manner in which you see her.  She said to me, " Look Nana, I did it all myself".  

That got me to thinking.  (Usually when I say those words, my husband says an exasperated,  "Oh boy", because he knows some idea is about to spill forth out of me, that usually involves him and work!) This time it didn't involve him, well not directly.  My thoughts made me think about how we try to do things all by ourself, moving through our day, with little thought to including God in on the day.   We think we have to "do it all myself", as my little grand daughter said.  But we don't have to "do it all myself", if fact I don't think we are suppose to.  Jesus wants to be involved in our life, from the mundane to the trials.  He wants to be there.  He wants to help.

Philipians 4:13 is a familiar verse to most of us,"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

I think perhaps though, we tend to focus more on the I can do part.  Speaking from experience, most of my Mrs. Potato Head days come from forgetfulness.  I usually forget one of two things. One, I forget to be thankful in ALL things, the mundane, the exasperating, and yes even those challenging trials.  And two, I tend to forget to focus on the 2nd part of Philipians 4:13,  the part that says,
through Christ who strengthens me.
                                                                                
           Through Christ who strengthens me

Trust me as someone who has learned the hard way, as someone who thought she could handle whatever came her way.  I couldn't.  I didn't.  I had a heart attack*, me , a healthy runner!  The  elephant found me and he sat on my chest.  911 called, monitors hooked up, nitrates under the tongue, the whole 9 yards.  And all this at Sunday morning worship, no less.  That poor visiting preacher! 

So please listen when I say this. You are going to have Mrs. Potato head days.  Some will be funny, laughable, some will try the very fiber of your being.  BUT, don't try to get through any of them, without asking HIM to strengthen you.  


  "Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find..."   Matthew 7:7

             So what are you waiting for?  Start asking for strength, Mrs. Potato Head :)

*read on to learn about the heart attack

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*Authors note:
  After testing by a cardiologist, it was determined that I had a stress induced anxiety attack. :/
You see, for the previous 7 months I had been a caregiver to my terminally ill mother, who was living with us.  Though I had hospice help, and the help of my family, I was shouldering too much...with my "I can do it myself" mentality.   Mom and I also had a challenging relationship, so there were many
complicating, difficult emotions in being her caregiver.  
   Suffice it to say, the 'heart attack' got my attention, and slowly things began to change, within me, and with our relationship.  She and I enjoyed a much improved relationship the last months of her life.
My wish was to be there with her when she took her last breath, as she was there when I took my first breath.  God answered that prayer.  And it was a sacred moment.