A Day to Erase

Some days, I wish there were an eraser big enough to erase a day from my collection of days. Yesterday was one such day.

Now, I’m not talking about those tragic, life-altering days. I honestly wouldn’t wish them away, because in each case, God created something beautiful out of them.

I’m talking about the days when a bunch of petty things seem to go wrong. Each little issue is minor on its own, but together they make a pretty yucky bunch of setbacks.

I don’t know about you, but these types of days (for me) tend to revolve around people disappointing me. Either somebody has hurt my feelings (often without realizing it), or someone promised something and didn’t follow through. It may have been a harsh word spoken or a look of disinterest. It could have been an ugly-sounding person on the other end of a phone call. It might have even been a child choosing to behave in a hurtful way. Whatever the case might be…those bad days for me tend to revolve around other people.

I’ve been going through a season of “tired” as I shared previously. Therefore, I tend to wear down (emotionally) a little more easily. Words spoken to me that may have been totally harmless are often taken (by me) as bitter or hurtful. Everything tends to look a little more gloomy, in general. I guess you could say, I’ve exhibited the “Eeyore syndrome” a little more often.

Yesterday caused me to slip a little further into that pit – the one I created myself. I tend to go there when I have a “woe is me” moment. I recognized my “plight” as I wandered around the grocery store yesterday evening – the last place I wanted to spend my time on a Monday night.

I mumbled – at least in my head – about how everybody kept letting me down. I just didn’t see an end to my current predicament. I actually had a little bit of Elijah’s attitude (right after the Mt Carmel events in 1 Kings 19). And then it happened…

Another embarrassing grocery store moment (I’ve had many…let me tell ya). I ran my cart into the Velveeta Mac ‘n Cheese display and knocked down three shelves FULL of boxes. It seemed to happen in slow motion.

I first realized the cart that created this mess was mine.

I then realized the bottom shelf was collapsing…then the next one…and the next…noooooooo!

By then, I just stood there and stared. I knew I couldn’t stop it.

The conviction came almost immediately. I had been complaining (even if only in my head) about everybody else all day long, but this time…it was all me! I think the Holy Spirit jumped on that teachable moment. I sighed rather loudly and then stooped down and started picking up the boxes. Seconds later, a lady beside me finished a call on her cell phone, then dropped down to the floor to help me. Then, another lady joined our box re-stacking party.

I thanked each of these precious ladies for taking the time to help a tired, whiny girl out.

I laughed at how stupid the display looked, but I was thankful we were able to scoop all the pieces out of the aisles to prevent someone from falling. And…I quietly thanked God for giving me a moment to remember that people only disappoint me when I let them. But even strangers can bring joy at just the right moment. 🙂