There are always a few things on my mind: faith, family, health, finances. Add to them a few extra issues: my dad’s health is unstable right now (not good), my son is home from college for a few weeks (good), my husband caught the cold-going-around (not good), Christmas and time with family (good), my intentional approach to Advent and slowing down this year (mostly good) and now New Year’s considerations (some good, some not-so-good). A former pastor of mine used to call this situation “The pileup effect.”
I used to think of God as being a bully with these overwhelming seasons. If things are already tough, why add to them? I finally had a lightbulb moment. Perhaps I’m listening more when I’m dealing with a couple tough things. When I’m already listening, why wouldn’t God want to give me a few more situations to exercise my “letting go” muscles?
And so when
even more bonus events came rolling in last week: my credit card was
fraudulently used, my freezer broke, and the insurance company started to call
again about a car accident from six months ago—none of these things had an
impact on my stress level. I dealt with them practically and without extra
emotion. Pretty cool.
My favorite
event from last week was during my drive to see my counselor. I was pondering
these so-called crises to determine which I would discuss during my session. A
car pulled in front of me, bearing this license plate: “SURENDER.”
Thanks,
God.
Here’s a
practical, witty, fabulous talk on Letting Go by Jill Sheerer Murray which I
know you’ll appreciate and enjoy as much as I did today. Happy New Year! And
here’s to Letting Go.
