I was in the middle of a “man-about-the-house” job and loving every minute…..NOT….when I realized I needed longer zip lines. The closest place is Walmart and it was dinner time – either the best or worst time to go to Walmart. Was everyone home eating dinner or did they all decide to postpone dinner and get to Walmart right away.
It was the worst time to go. Figures. I found what I needed and decided rather than make a U-turn in that aisle to go to the checkout counter, I would go down the next aisle which had Fall and Halloween decorations. There was a flat wooden pumpkin with the words Choose to be Grateful painted on it. Yes, that is it, pictured above because I did buy it along with the longer zip lines. I was intrigued by the pumpkin because what has Autumn or Halloween have to do with being grateful and the bigger question….when did Walmart start selling inspirational items???
Choose to be Grateful? You mean it’s an option??? YES! Just like we choose to be upset and choose to be angry or hurt or wounded.
Yesterday, I drove my sister to an appointment. She is going through something right now and was in no state to follow these complicated directions to get to the office she needed. I was happy to help. We arrived in enough time that we sat in the car and talked for a bit. She went in for her appointment and I walked around the back of the building to deadhead the marigolds that were planted there.
A woman came out the door and said “Oh! You are stealing the plants!” Like a guilty kid with her hand in the cookie jar, I immediately held out my hand to show what I had and assured her I was only picking the dead ones. She laughed and said she was only kidding but I still felt the need to explain. “See, (holding up my Tau Cross) I’m a Franciscan and we are doing a project with these seeds. I’m only picking the dead ones because that is where the seeds are.” She thought it was a nice idea and started walking to her car. Halfway across the parking lot, she stopped and turned back to me. “Can you say a prayer for me?” she asked. “You bet I can! What’s your first name?” It turned out to be Marian and she was so grateful for the promise of a prayer. She has been having severe pain in her back and that day the doctor decided she needed an injection at the Pain Intervention Center. The first appointment is November 14; a long time to wait in pain.
I returned to the car to see my sister coming out of the building, visibly upset and shaking. While I was deadheading marigolds, she was going all over the building looking for the right office only to find out that they had moved. We were at the wrong place. Her cell phone rang and it was the person she was supposed to meet with and he was apologizing for not giving her the right address and directions. The appointment was not an easy one to make and she was afraid she had missed her chance. The man said he would see her as soon as we got to the right place. Now she was feeling guilty that she was holding me up and that we would be going home in rush hour.
I chose to be grateful. First, I told her it was never a waste of time to be with her which calmed her down some. Then I told her about picking marigolds and having an opportunity to pray for someone. Both things to be grateful for. If we had not been at the wrong place, I wouldn’t have more marigold seeds, or have met someone who needed to hear from God. Make me an instrument….
I could have been upset about losing more time when I have so much to do right now. I could have been annoyed with my sister for not having the right address, and I could have been very angry being stuck in rush hour traffic on the Blue Route. But I chose to be grateful…grateful for how God used me to reach out to a woman who is scared and in pain. And grateful that God allowed me to spend time with my sister who I dearly love. Yes, being grateful is a choice. Not always an easy one. But something I want to continue to work on. I feel a lot better choosing to be grateful than being tied up in knots on the Blue Route! While you are trying to choose to be grateful, say a prayer for Marian. She could use it!
