I'm exhausted. Everything going on my my life has decided to compile into one long week. Friday my Mother-in-law had surgery. She is fine, thankfully, but the recovery period is rough, and taking care of someone recovering from surgery is hard. I haven't slept well in four days, and I'm realizing how much that affects my mental sharpness and my ability to deal with normal stressors. Matt was able to take a couple of days off to help, and has been amazing though he is tired too. Yesterday I forgot my ATM pin number while trying to pay for groceries, tried to pay for my coffee twice, looked frantically for my cell phone while I was talking on it, and put away a plate in the fridge. I really need some sleep, but I seriously don't have time.
Our house is suppose to close this week. This transaction has be riffed with complications, and has been incredibly stressful. Our (awesome) realtor told me that in the 15 years she has been an agent she has never had so many issues that were not buyer related. Our life is packed in boxes and in storage. I'm so ready to be done. SO ready. We're not even in our house and a family member is trying to control what we do and how we do it-- even offering to pay for things to have them his way, then bursting out in anger when we say no, and trying to control it behind our backs. SO fun.
I'm scheduled to take the GRE test on Friday, and while I'm excited to get it done, I'm also fully aware that I won't be able to devote myself to studying this week. Between everything we having going on-- plus a slice of family drama on top and I just don't know if I can do it. I wish it didn't make me so upset, but sometimes it's hard to not be upset when you're responsible for so much while others don't take any responsibility at all. This is how it always seems to work. Many hands make the work light, but few make it heavy, and things are feeling heavy right now. Must figure our how to catch a break. Hopefully soon.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Heroes
It always strikes me as interesting whenever I watch an interview with someone that is hailed a hero after a particularly courageous or quick-thinking act that saves another from tragedy. As if they've been coached by the gods of humility themselves, they all say the same thing "Oh, I'm not a hero, anyone would've one what I did." I think most of the time they're right. I think the human race in general is one of compassion. Maybe not the most common belief about people, but I do believe that.
While I believe that those people are indeed heroes, I don't think they're the only kind of heroes. I'm not trying to lessen the greatness of a good deed done in the face of crisis. That is a truly admirable thing that should be appreciated and recognized. Especially when one risks his life for another, or in some cases gives his life for another. It's the ultimate sacrifice.
I was recently at a staff meeting for a non-profit Matt and I volunteer with. We were talking about how to really reach the kids we work with, and my friend, Robert, talked about laying his life down for them. It not like this was a new concept. How many times have I been in church and heard the pastor preach about John 15:13, about "greater love"? For some reason on that night it truly hit me. I need to lay down my life.
I started thinking about how to lay my life down for the people around me. I stopped thinking about big things and started thinking about being in the trenches with people. Laying down my life when it's hard. Laying my life down by being a good friend. Laying my life down when things are mundane. Laying my life down by filling practical needs for people. Laying my life down without recognition. Laying my life down by being a good listener. Laying my life down when it's inconvenient and taxing.
Laying down your life is not putting people and their needs on a shelf. It's not being ridged and rehearsed. It's not just swooping down to save the day when it's convenient. It's not to gain attention, or position. It's not in inauthentic humility. It's not only in the big things, but in the day to day.
Laying down your life, is just that-- Laying down anything you can receive in sacrifice and devotion to another.
While I believe that those people are indeed heroes, I don't think they're the only kind of heroes. I'm not trying to lessen the greatness of a good deed done in the face of crisis. That is a truly admirable thing that should be appreciated and recognized. Especially when one risks his life for another, or in some cases gives his life for another. It's the ultimate sacrifice.
I was recently at a staff meeting for a non-profit Matt and I volunteer with. We were talking about how to really reach the kids we work with, and my friend, Robert, talked about laying his life down for them. It not like this was a new concept. How many times have I been in church and heard the pastor preach about John 15:13, about "greater love"? For some reason on that night it truly hit me. I need to lay down my life.
I started thinking about how to lay my life down for the people around me. I stopped thinking about big things and started thinking about being in the trenches with people. Laying down my life when it's hard. Laying my life down by being a good friend. Laying my life down when things are mundane. Laying my life down by filling practical needs for people. Laying my life down without recognition. Laying my life down by being a good listener. Laying my life down when it's inconvenient and taxing.
Laying down your life is not putting people and their needs on a shelf. It's not being ridged and rehearsed. It's not just swooping down to save the day when it's convenient. It's not to gain attention, or position. It's not in inauthentic humility. It's not only in the big things, but in the day to day.
Laying down your life, is just that-- Laying down anything you can receive in sacrifice and devotion to another.
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