Month: May 2017

This past Saturday I wanted nothing more than to eat pizza and binge watch Gilmore Girls. This is a little unusual for me, don’t get me wrong I love the show but for me to sit that long just watching TV is not something I normally do or enjoy.

I turned on my Netflix but it wouldn’t load, after trying it a few times and not being tech savvy or having patience for technology I gave up and looked at what was on TV. I found an undercover boss marathon.

I haven’t watched it much but it seemed ok for someone who just wanted to be a couch potato. I enjoyed it but always wanted to know how most people couldn’t see past the disguise, from the few I watched only two people saw through the disguise. Besides bad wig jobs it was interesting to see the CEO work menial labor and interact with those that worked for them. You could see the happiness in the CEO’s eyes when they worked with people who cared about their job and just as interesting to watch were those interactions with people who did not like their job and could have cared less. I noticed even with people who didn’t have the best out look or work ethic the CEO would still try to work with them to see if they could or would do better.

In the end I would get a little teary as the good hard-working people got a reward and of course I also got to see the few that were not so hard-working get talked to or let go.

As I went to bed from a wild night of undercover boss I thought how very much Jesus was like that on earth. He came in a disguise not as the “CEO” that he was but as an ordinary person no frills just hard-working and showing love were he went and taught us by his actions how to live and treat others. Only a few saw past the disguise.

In the end he will reveal who he is, will we be the ones getting the reward or the deadbeats that don’t.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

A brief definition of ordinary according to the dictionary is “Having no special ability, quality, or purpose.”

I know this might sound as if I have low self-esteem when I say that I have always thought of myself as ordinary but just stick with me for a moment. I am not what you call unattractive but defiantly not beautiful. I have always had a problem keeping weight on, no major muscle tone but still a small amount of muscle. I have average intelligence although on some days I question if perhaps its a little below. I can be crafty but nothing Pinterest worthy, I can sketch but nothing to sell and the list can go on.

For years this drove me nuts, I wanted to be the best.  I was the over achiever, I studied harder to get that 4.0 or when I ran I had to beat my own time. When I became a wife and mom I had to be and do everything.  I became almost obsessive you might say, that anything I did I wanted to go above and beyond almost to prove I was anything but ordinary. It’s no small wonder my husband left me, yes he had his demons but looking back how exhausting to live that way.

I continued that “I must be the best attitude” for so long and if I did not achieve being perfect I would bail or almost kill myself trying to do and be all things. I have hurt people I love with this way of living and burnt my candle out at both ends. I had to learn that ordinary does not equal failure.

“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly” John F Kennedy

True to perfectionist form I didn’t just fail but I did so miserably but I am so glad I did because now I can achieve greatly.

Isaiah 64:8 “Yet you, Lord are our father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of you hand.

I may be an ordinary gray clay pot nothing to extravagant with design or color but I am exeptional, unique and so loved by my creator.

Growing up my dad gave of his time and money to make that day special for my mom. We would cook  give homemade gifts and cards plus with an older sister to boss or I should say “guide” us. Our celebrations should go down in record books.

Fast forward to mothers day 1993 it was coming fast I was excited because it was my first mothers day as a mom. I had visions of being doted on, showered with love oh the expectations were very high. The day came and went with not even a glance in my direction. I was hurt, mad and my thoughts had a lot of  colorful adjectives that I could use to describe my husband.

Mothers days came and went I never did get the celebration you see from Hollywood from my husband, he just didn’t have it in him but what I got as my children grew was better.

I would hear from my bedroom my daughter boss my son around as they would get breakfast so I could “sleep in” and eat in my bed with a had made card and gift. My breakfast in bed started out as cold cereal graduated to eggs with shells, so much protein. Then on to perfect looking and tasting breakfast that I could say come straight from a magazine. I look back missing those with egg shells.

Perfection or close to perfection is over rated. We can lose our self trying for it and trading our joy to never get it.

I have those wonderful memories but I can learn from them as well. I can give of my self to others not for perfection or anything in return. To be a servant like Jesus was, he was a perfect example.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mothers day can be hard on some who no longer have their moms with them or they don’t have moms that they want to celebrate but what ever the case we can celebrate the joy of those women that give and enrich our life.

I had the pleasure to work in my yard on Monday. I have always enjoyed working outside and felt so blessed to be able to be out side working. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful.

I was enjoying the sound of the birds, the smell and feel of the soil with the sun on my shoulders I let out a sigh of happiness. I thought it just couldn’t get any better. I had no worries, life was as perfect as it could get. As I finished and looked with satisfaction on what I did, it got me thinking.

It is not in the absence of problems but instead while in the mist of the worst of what life can throw at you is when not worrying really matters.

Not giving in to worry during the worst of times. Understanding that it wont change a thing to worry so why take ownership of it. I reflect on scripture, meditate and mentally play catch with God. I label my baseball with my worry, I concentrate on my breath then I mentally see my self throwing it as if I am in right field and it needs to get to the pitcher mound. As soon as it leaves my hand I see it soaring and being caught by a large glove that is made to catch the biggest balls. As odd as this seems it not only helps but it makes life so much better and I am able to participate in my life without worry dragging me down.

I love the encouraging statement by Corrie ten Boom. Now she could have been given a hall pass to worry, in fact many are amazed by her strength as she was imprisoned by the Nazis during the Holocaust, talk about real problems.

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” Corrie ten Boom

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”  1 Peter 5:7