Just One of Those Days...

Have you ever had one of those days? The kind of morning when you have the kids all ready for school (finally, since you're running late) and as you head out to start the SUV on the cold winter day, you realize it's on empty? Yep, no gas at all in the old tank. As you watch the snow fall, you realize there's only one choice. You must drive the big truck today.

That happened to me the other day. I climbed in to start our large diesel pickup. Moments later, my children were loaded and ready to head to school. As I backed the truck out of the driveway (for more information on my depth perception or lack thereof, please see my blog about big trucks), I didn't realize a small detail in the way. Ok, so it wasn't that small. It was a large green garbage can ready and prepared for the trash truck to empty it since it was garbage day. "What was that noise?" I asked. (It's hard to hear anything over a diesel).

"Uh, Mom, you just ran over the garbage can," Sunshine told me.

"What?!" I asked. Surely not. I had checked my mirrors - had done everything right that that old Driver's Ed instructor had taught me. But sure enough, I backed up further and saw the proof. The tire tracks on the green garbage can were unmistakable. The worst part of all? It was our neighbor's garbage can!

It was just one of those days.

Or maybe you're preparing a nice meal of fried potatoes and ham for your husband. It's one of his favorite meals and he's had an especially busy day. Fussing over the stove, you smile as you realize that for once, the meal you're preparing is looking just like one of those ads in a cooking magazine. Suddenly, as you turn to the sink to rinse the salad, you spy something crawling on the ceiling - your worst enemy.

This is what happened to me that day. The fly crawling on the ceiling was completely out of place in the middle of winter. Yet, there he was sharing his germs with my ceiling. "Lon! Can you get that fly?" I said over the noise of kids doing homework, the meal cooking, and the radio loudly playing "Adventures in Odyssey."

"I'll get it," Lon said. He climbed on a chair and began to wave wildly at the fly with the newspaper. Unfortunately, my champion fly killer husband missed the target and the fly began to hobble off, half shocked, half socked by Lon's futile attempt.

I didn't think any more of the fly issue. After all, we'd find him later and take care of him...

"Please clear the table!"" I said exuberantly. "Dinner is ready!" I admired once again my meal. (What's that verse about pride coming before a fall?!)

"It sure smells good," Lon said as he eyed the fried potatoes and ham cooked in olive oil.

I stirred the meal one last time before preparing to serve it. That's when I discovered an ugly (and unhealthy!) truth. There in the middle of the golden potatoes was the fly. Yep, that same fly that had been injured in Lon's attempt to rid our home of insects. "AHHHH!" I screamed.

Lon came running to my rescue. Had I burnt myself? Had the oven caught on fire? "What's wrong?" he asked.

Caught between tears from frustration and disbelief, I pointed at the dead fly in the food. Too late to fix something else, it became a dinner of cottage cheese, cereal, and salad. It was just one of those days.

Or your oldest daughter, normally a nearly straight-a student comes home from first grade and tells you she refuses to do her homework. "Why?" I asked when this happened to me that day.

"Because I don't like that book," she declared.

"You still have to do a book report, even if you don't like the book," I told her. "Your teacher is an authority figure and we are taught in the Bible to obey authority."

Sunshine shook her head and refused to do the work. It was so uncharacteristic of her that at first I was in shock. Never before had she "bucked" the system. Never before had she refused to do her homework. She was such a good student. "Why?" I asked again.

"The book is called 'Caps for Sale' and I don't like it. The monkeys are very naughty. They steal caps and it's wrong to steal." Sunshine said. When she was younger, we called her "the lieutenant" because she has always had a devout sense of right and wrong.

"Caps for Sale?" I searched the far recesses of my worn out mom brain for the title of the book. Then it came to me. Yes, I remembered reading that book in school, but I liked it. It was an old classic and I remember finding it quite humourous.

Taught to obey, Sunshine finally did do her book report on the book, but it was the messiest and un-thorough (is that even a word?!) book report she ever did. Something good came out of it though, we have told her that if she misbehaves, we'll read "Caps for Sale" to her over and over and over again! She quickly obeys when faced with such an unfavorable prospect.

Just one of those days.

Or maybe you're speed-walking the track after lifting weights, as you do three times a week, your MP3 player playing your Christian favorite music. Then on the local Christian radio station you're listening to, the announcer begins the prayer requests and asks that you now bow your head and join him as he prays for the needs of the area's listeners. You forget you're quickly walking in circles in an attempt to burn calories and you close your eyes. Crash!

Yep, it happened to me. Just one of those days.

Finally, has your child ever asked a question that you don't have an immediate answer for? Sunshine (must have been her day!) asked me why is it that when girls become women they get big buns?

A perfect ending to a perfect day...

Even though we all have those kind of days, it's reassuring to know that God hears our frustration. As I laid my burdens at the Cross that night, I thought of all that had happened. "Thank you, Lord," I prayed. "For being there through the good, the bad, and just one of those days!"

Finding New Homes

Lon and I recently began the task of "decluttering" in each room of our home. Soon, piles of clothing, hats, books, and other items accumulated in bags and boxes to be distributed to new homes.

Speaking of new homes…what can you do with all those items that are no longer needed, but are still in good condition? Why not bless someone else with those items?

1. Experts say if you haven’t worn something in the past two years, pass it on.

· Check your community for places that take used clothing. Homeless shelters and the Salvation Army or Goodwill are just a few of the places that would gladly take your used clothing.

· Dress for Success accepts nice women’s clothing that can be given to disadvantaged women, those exiting the prison system in search of employment, or those in need of clothing for a job interview. God has used this organization to bless those seeking a second chance. For more information, see http://www.dressforsuccess.org/

2. Toys. If your kids are like mine, they have more toys than they need. Why not bless a needy child with a gently loved toy? This encourages a giving and compassionate heart within your child.

· Know a foster parent? Might their foster child(ren) need toys or clothes? You can also check with your community Department of Family Services to see if there is someone in need or the Salvation Army/Goodwill are good choices as well.

3. Books. There are four people in my family, yet a glimpse around our house indicates we have at least nine Bibles. What about people who would love to have just one Bible? If you have extra Bibles or other books in your home, there are plenty of places in which to donate them:

· Love Packages accepts Bibles, Christian books and magazines, tracts, and hymnals. They distribute these items to numerous countries and into the hands of those who are hungry for the Word of God. Mail your items (media mail is less expensive) to Love Packages, 220 Union St., Butler, IL 62015 Be sure to check their website for a detailed list on what Love Packages does and does not accept at http://www.lovepackages.org/.

· Another place to send your books is to Hands for Christ. They found Lending Libraries in other countries and lend out Christian items to new believers. Mail items (again, media mail is less expensive) to Hands for Christ International, 5720 Williamson Rd. Ste. 11, Roanoke, VA 24012. More information can be found at http://www.handsforchrist.org/Site/Join_Us.html

· When we first discovered our church library, our daughters were ecstatic. Why not donate some of your items to your church library? Be sure to check (and double-check!) your items for content. The Bible warns us in 1 Corinthians 10:32 of causing others to stumble. Make sure your donated books, DVDs, and videos are clean and wholesome family-oriented material.

· Have some clean plastic cottage cheese or butter containers? Check to see if your church needs these containers for leftover meals at funerals, etc. Also, if you have other clean "Glad" or "Tupperware" containers you aren’t using, these can be donated as well.

· What to do with all those Christmas cards (as well as other occasion cards) you receive this year? My friend, Kim, put me on to this idea: donate cards to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children at Card Recycling Program, 100 St. Jude's Street, Boulder City, NV 89005. More details can be found at http://stjudesranch.org/help_card.php

· Could your local Habit for Humanity use your gently used household items, such as ceiling fans or doors?

Before you get started please check out these rules of thumb:

Always ask someone in your family, immediate and extended, if they need the item first. First Timothy 5:8 tells us to first provide for our relatives. Secondly, do you know any widows or single moms who could use the items? James 1:27 instructs us to take care of the widows and orphans.

Do NOT pass on anything you wouldn’t use or wear yourself (i.e., junk). Clothes with stains and holes, books with pages ripped out of them, scratched DVDs, or expired food that doesn’t have a place in your home certainly won’t be welcome (or appreciated) in someone else’s.

Remember to always call first to see if donations are being accepted. Some places are inundated with items and are therefore not accepting donations at this time. Please be respectful of their donation criteria.

Most importantly, pray for God’s guidance as you seek to find who could use your gently used items.

Now involve the entire family and bless someone today!

For more ideas on serving others, check out my latest book 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference: Ideas and Activities for Serving Others available wherever books are sold!