My friend told me a story last week about a cat she used to have named Sticky. Sticky had all kinds of problems. She had long legs like a stick figure (her name was originally stick and later became sticky) and she was a skinny, mangy, flea bag when my friend adopted her. Sticky got hit by a car one time and survived the accident but her tail was severely injured. An infection set in and her tail had to be amputated eventually. After her surgery she had to figure out how to walk straight again because she no longer had her tail to help her keep her balance. But she figured it out with determination and perseverance.
I think we can all relate to this story. I have days where I feel like everything is just WRONG. Last week in general was just not a good week for me. I had a headache almost everyday. I had a canker sore on the inside of my lip which I have not had since I was a teenager! I burned my arm on a hot plate at work. I was dealing with getting my storage unit cleaned out before the deadline. I was rushing around trying to finish up my Christmas shopping. Work was much busier than normal as we were gearing up for the holidays and by Friday my feet and back were killing me. I had “had it.” At the end of the day on Friday one of my co-workers walked through the lab and said “I feel like yelling and breaking things!” At that moment I began to let it all out. I could totally relate to how he was feeling and I was happy to know that I was not alone! I started to giggle uncontrollably and didn’t stop laughing for about 10 minutes. What a good release, to laugh. I was not laughing at my co-workers misfortunes and stress. It was more of a laughing with him feeling. I had been so caught up in everything that felt “wrong” that week that I got bogged down in my own negativity that I had created from situations that were beyond my control.
This week has been much better! Work is slowing down. My aches and pains are subsiding. Storage unit is emptied. Christmas shopping is complete. I trudged through it all and came out on the other side okay, just like Sticky.
I intended to write this earlier in the evening but time flies when you are having fun (I spent this Christmas Eve with my Aunt and her family) and it is now CHRISTMAS MORNING! I am looking forward to spending the day with my dad. We will open gifts, eat lunch and probably watch a Christmas movie or two. Sounds like a perfectly peaceful and simple day to me. I hope that wherever you are or whoever you are celebrating with that you have a blessed and joyous holiday. And if you are alone, you really are not alone. God is always with us and He loves us no matter what.
Merry Christmas!