I had a pity party last night. No, I didn’t send out invitations, but my wife attended. For one of the few times since November, I was mad at my situation. I was mad at the world.
It had been a mentally exhausting day. I came home to find my boys fighting (because the day ended with ‘Y’). And my poor dog’s diabetes was roaring out of control after he had been at the vet all day (and I dropped another $82 I didn’t have.) After cleaning up dog puke for the fifth time, I came unraveled.
“I didn’t ask for this!” I whined to my wife. She nodded. “I’m going to be working 23 hours a day!” She nodded again. She then put everything back in perspective for me — as good spouse can do. She reminded me of my blessings. She reminded me of my opportunities (I’m normally the cheerleader, but she took the reigns and got me back under control.)
The party was over before it really started.
I was glad. The last time I threw one of these, it lasted six months. Talk about not bringing enough snacks.
It’s OK to get mad about your situation. But do something about it. I want my life to change — so I have to do something different. In the next few days you’ll be hearing how it will be different.
I looked up at the ceiling as my poor dog started to snore and my wife drifted off to sleep and thought,” I could never be a motivational person. I’m way too flawed.” But someday I will write a book about my experiences. God didn’t give me all the answers. But He sure has given me the opportunities to learn a few of them along the way.
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But sometimes working through those opportunites still stinks! Know that a lot of your friends are out there rooting for you and are appreciation your writing and drawing! Thinking of you!
Marshall,
I think you just found the title for your future book:
“God didn’t give me all the answers”
with the sub-title:
“But He sure has given me the opportunities to learn a few of them along the way”
And include the drawing of you w/ your rolling trash barrel & diploma. . . maybe Shirley’s voice coming out of a wall-mounted speaker, “Marshall, there’s a problem in the boy’s bathroom on the 100 hall.”
That problem being toilet paper stuffed in there with poop on top of it. I still have nightmares.
I can promise you that one day you’ll look back over this difficult time and you’ll be amazed what God has done in your life and you will marvel at his timing. I don ‘t have enough room here to detail the routes my life took before the bottom ‘fell out”. but because God was in control and it was all in his timing, all worked out well. Not to say a lot of tears weren’t shed and LONG pity parties, but somewhere down the road you’ll wonder why you worried or fretted at all!
You may not think you’re ‘motivational’, but you are! I want to change several aspects of my life and your pep talks remind me that I’m the only one that can do it! It may not be easy, but what about life is? Thanks!
Ditto! You have inspired me in many ways! You really are a little too hard on yourself sometimes. But you also really do have the answers. It’s getting up every morning and thanking God for giving you another day. Then you put one foot in front of the other and repeat.
“Life is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.” My life quote after going through cancer, husband losing his job and much, much more. Pity parties are allowed as long as they have an ending. Be glad you have a spouse who brings you back around and reminds you of your blessings. That’s what marriage is all about!