"Stop and Smell the Roses"

HAVE YOU EVER JUST HAD THE DAY FROM "HELL?"

"CAN THIS DAY GET ANY WORST?!" I SAID TO MYSELF AS I WAS TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING DONE ALL AT ONCE. FIRST I HAD SOME WASHING THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF. THEN IT’S THE COOKING, THE SHOPPING. "OH MY GOD! HOW WILL I PULL EVERYTHING OFF." ON TOP OF THAT I WAS SO STRESSED OUT BETWEEN WORK AND BILLS. "BILLS! BILLS! ALWAYS BILLS!" I CAN REMEMBER MY SELF SAYING.  MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID IF WE DIDN’T HAVE TO EAT AND PAY BILLS WE WOULD BE RICH. WELL THE REALITY OF IT ALL WE HAVE TO EAT AND PAY BILLS TO SURVIVE SO THAT MONEY WOULDN’T BE NO GOOD ANYWAYS.  SO, I WENT ALONG TO START MY WASHING, GOING WITH THE FLOW. MY MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND I WAS FEELING PEACEFUL. THEN BAM! THE DRYER WENT OUT! "REALLY?!" I YELLED. IF ITS NOT ONE THING ITS SURELY IS ANOTHER. WELL THERE GOES ANOTHER BILL TO ADD ON TO MY STRESS. SO, I WENT OVER TO MY MOTHERS HOUSE TO DRY MY CLOTHES. THANK GOD FOR PARENTS. BECAUSE I WASN’T LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING IN A LAUNDRY MAT AND SPENDING MY QUARTERS.  AT THIS POINT I WAS FEELING A LITTLE OVERWHELMED WITH EVERYTHING.  I HAVEN'T BEEN TO MY MOMS HOUSE IN A WHILE, MAYBE THIS WAS GODS WAY OF GIVING ME NO CHOICE BUT TO GO. THE SMALL THINGS RIGHT?!

MANY TIMES I WAS HELD UP FROM LEAVING MY HOME, WORK, THE STORE ETC. WHAT IF THAT’S GODS WAY OF PROTECTING US? I KNOW WHEN I PRAY I ASK GOD TO BE MY EYES AND MY EARS, MY EVERYTHING. BUT, WE TEND TO GET MAD WHEN WE ARE HELD UP ARE THINGS ARE NOT HAPPENING THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD. NO MATTER IF YOU ARE AN ORGANIZED PERSON ARE NOT. EVERYONE HAS A ROUTINE. A WAY OF LIFE THAT WE GET ACCUSTOMED TO. AS SOON AS THINGS GET OFF TRACK WE GO INTO A PANIC. AS THOUGH OUR LIFE WILL COME TO A COMPLETE END. AS I LOOK BACK I'M GLAD MY DRYER BROKE. BECAUSE IT GAVE ME A CHANCE TO SPEND TIME WITH MY LOVE ONES. WE LIVE DAY TO DAY AND WE NEVER TAKE THE TIME TO REALLY SLOW DOWN AND REALLY SMELL THE ROSES. ITS OKAY WHEN THINGS DON’T GO THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD GO. IT GIVES YOU SOME TIME TO REALLY LOOK AROUND TO THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTERS. ALL THOSE SMALL THINGS THAT I WAS GETTING ALL WORKED UP OVER HAD A MEANING BEHIND IT. SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT CAN GET YOUR MIND OFF TRACK. CAN RUIN YOUR JOY AND PEACE. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE ONES AROUND ME. NEVER TAKING ANYTHING FOR GRANTED. WHEN WE LEARN THAT THOSE THINGS WILL HAPPEN. THINGS WILL GET OFF OF ROUTINE. WE WILL LEARN TO APPRECIATE WHEN THINGS ARE RIGHT. SLOW DOWN LOOK AROUND IT WILL BE ALRIGHT.  

MATTHEW 6:34 (NIV)
THEREFORE DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR TOMORROW WILL WORRY
ABOUT ITSELF. EACH DAY HAS ENOUGH TROUBLE OF ITS OWN.