I don’t usually put things like this on my blog, but I thought this time I would. This weekend we had our Stake Conference meetings for church. To be quite honest I sometimes dread the adult session on Saturday night. I’m not sure why, I always enjoy it, but getting there can be tough. This time I was exhausted and didn’t want to go try and keep McKinley happy on my lap for 2 hours. But, I did it anyway and I was really glad I went.
I thoroughly enjoyed the speakers and as usual, they opened my eyes to some things I should work on. One of the speakers talked about a man who had undergone 3 heart surgeries, all of which were last minute and either slightly extended (to make it to the next surgery) or saved his life. After the third surgery was successful, he was finally being discharged. The day before he was discharged a friend found him sitting on the edge of his bed at breakfast time, looking very upset. Thinking that something was terribly wrong the friend asked if he was ok. His response was the oatmeal isn’t warm and the milk isn’t cold.
The speaker went on to talk about how this man had used up all of his “coping coupons” during this ordeal and now he couldn’t quite cope with cold oatmeal and warm milk. Is it ok that I feel like I can understand where this poor guy is coming from? Really, after you’ve gone through something hard is it too much to ask to for a little warm oatmeal? I know that I didn’t die and in fact nothing all that tragic happened to me. Here I am 5 ½ moths later and basically some day with continued hard work, I will be the same as I once was with only a few things that will remain and cause discomforts. But I often find myself “out of coupons” (even though Robbie is so great and incredibly patient with me). I spend so much energy trying to physically heal and take care of every day life, that I find myself exhausted and I can tell you right now, I would not be thrilled if I had cold oatmeal and warm milk. I don’t think I’ve been a terrible person through this ordeal, but I guess what I’m trying to say is, it’s time to move on. I still have to work hard and try to get better every day, but it’s time; it’s time to get my patience back and be thrilled that I have oatmeal at all!
3 comments:
So, what about when you don't have a tough ordeal, and you're still sad about the oatmeal? Cuz that's me.
I definitely have some work to do.
You truly are an inspiration. I had goose bumps as I read this post. Stay strong!
And I say, it really is the cold oatmeal that can send you over teh edge. I fixated on salt. Like where should I put the salt on my pantry shelf so i can reach it. It was all I could think of for a couople weeks. I was scared to step out of my day-to-day droning survival and remember that perhaps it will be better in anothe week or two, or even if it took a few more months (or lifetimes) than I had bargained for.
And maybe your oatmeal is the best gauge you have to compare yourself with now and the next week. I wouldn't be took much in a rush to be satisfied with cold oatmeal.
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