So yesterday I walked out to our newspaper box and found no newspaper. Sigh. I came inside and complained to Tom, then he called the newspaper office to tell them our paper hadn't arrived (9:00 a.m. by now). The guy told him he wasn't sure if we would get one that day, and if we didn't, we'd receive a credit.
So we pretty much wrote it off for the day. And complained to each other, once again, about the incompetence of Today's Society and how you can't count on anyone to do the job right anymore, yada, yada. You know. You've probably heard that refrain at your house a time or two, as well.
Alas. Just before noon I went to check the mail and saw the newspaper had arrived! So I carried it inside, but as I reached the door, I thought, "Hmm... that headline looks familiar."
Turns out, it was a copy of last Wednesday's newspaper. Good grief.
So Tom and I sang that "Is The Whole World Incompetent?" song yet again.
And then I began to laugh. And laugh. Suddenly I got this picture in my mind of some hardened newspaper guy with a visor on his head speaking into the phone. "Hey Kid. You forgot to deliver the paper to the L_____'s. So get over there."
Then the kid says, "But I ran out of today's issue."
"Aww, just take 'em any old issue. They'll never know the difference."
Heh. I told that to Tom and he laughed too. (Yet he still wanted to call and complain.)
But you know? This is a prime example that Life is just too darn short to stay mad.
It's not worth the churning stomach and frayed nerves to stay angry at our friends. Or strangers. It's not worth the internal poison to stay mad at our spouse or our kids or our neighbor. Or the FDA or Simon Cowell or the weather.
It's just not worth the negative energy eating away at your emotions and making us sick. Sooner or later all that stuff catches up to us on the inside and the outside--anger shows up on ones face, you know. Most likely we've all met someone with anger crevices dug deep into their face.
And may you never see that person staring back at you from a mirror.
**********************
Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you..."
So we pretty much wrote it off for the day. And complained to each other, once again, about the incompetence of Today's Society and how you can't count on anyone to do the job right anymore, yada, yada. You know. You've probably heard that refrain at your house a time or two, as well.
Alas. Just before noon I went to check the mail and saw the newspaper had arrived! So I carried it inside, but as I reached the door, I thought, "Hmm... that headline looks familiar."
Turns out, it was a copy of last Wednesday's newspaper. Good grief.
So Tom and I sang that "Is The Whole World Incompetent?" song yet again.
And then I began to laugh. And laugh. Suddenly I got this picture in my mind of some hardened newspaper guy with a visor on his head speaking into the phone. "Hey Kid. You forgot to deliver the paper to the L_____'s. So get over there."
Then the kid says, "But I ran out of today's issue."
"Aww, just take 'em any old issue. They'll never know the difference."
Heh. I told that to Tom and he laughed too. (Yet he still wanted to call and complain.)
But you know? This is a prime example that Life is just too darn short to stay mad.
It's not worth the churning stomach and frayed nerves to stay angry at our friends. Or strangers. It's not worth the internal poison to stay mad at our spouse or our kids or our neighbor. Or the FDA or Simon Cowell or the weather.
It's just not worth the negative energy eating away at your emotions and making us sick. Sooner or later all that stuff catches up to us on the inside and the outside--anger shows up on ones face, you know. Most likely we've all met someone with anger crevices dug deep into their face.
And may you never see that person staring back at you from a mirror.
**********************
Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you..."
"The joy of the Lord is your strength."
9 comments:
Thanks Debra.I needed that reminder today!
Elizabeth
What often happens to me (it did just a couple of days ago) is that I criticize something or somebody for their bad behavior and POOF! by some magic soon after I find myself doing the exact same thing! SO humiliating.
Elizabeth--you're welcome. I think we all need a booster shot of this about once a week.:)
Debbie--oh I know! In fact, I've been thinking about this lots lately after reading comments about the Susan Boyle video. People said such harsh words about the two girls shown in the audience who made faces regarding Susan's words and yet I imagine those commenters have done that very same thing at least once in their lives. People say we Christians are such hypocrites, yet *everyone* can fail on 'small' things like making snap judgements. sigh. (I was going to blog about that but I'm thinking my readers are sick of hearing about Susan.) :)
Thanks, Ladies. Blessings, Debra
Okay..I don't consider myself a "Pretty Person" a la Bonny Hunt (she had a good response to this subject on YouTube) but my jaw did also drop. I've since heard Susan on a third song - Killing Me Softly - recorded 10 years ago - I would definitely buy a CD of hers. She is VERY expressive on top of the beautiful voice. I am not sick yet of talking about her. I am curious about her. I missed her interviews so I think I will go looking.
Oh thanks, Debbie! I hadn't heard her sing that song yet and I enjoyed it, though it's never been a favorite song of mine. I also really, really enjoyed the photos shown during the song, on this version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ai27pvt-PY
I'm glad you're not sick of hearing about Susan--neither am I. And I keep seeing more and more good which came from her audition--it astounds me how she has touched peoples' lives, how even God is touching people through her. I love it! Thanks again, Debra
Sooooooo right you are! There's never enough time, to waste it on being 'grumped-out' over this or that.
'Cause you know what?
As soon as you wear yourself out, and raise your blood pressure, over one thing... Another thing will come along, to take its place. -giggles-
Best to realize to not get 'bent out of shape,' over the first thing. Think of all the upset, we short-circut, be doing that. :-)))
Aunt Amelia
To keep it short...I totally agree with all of the above. All very true.
I also never get tired of hearing Susan sing. I wish her well.
Wilma
Back again, with a blog idea. :-)
I came across this pretty blog & thought of you! She calls herself 'The Happy Homebody.' Sounds like your 'Happy Homemaker.'
Anyway, the name of her blog caught my eye, and I visited, and oh yes... Your kind of homey decorating. Even Yard Sale finds!
Her color schemes may not be your color schemes but, I betcha' it would be fun, to take a peek at her blog.
And the click-able link is - The Happy Homebody. :-)
Gentle hugs,
'Aunt Amelia'
Oppppsies! She has a GOLD Dining Room! You do too!
I saw the red color in her Kitchen and didn't think red walls would be to your taste. But the Dining Room looks quite gold to me. :-)
I'm referring to the Happy Homebody. :-)
'Aunt Amelia'
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