Waiting for the other shoe to drop. That sense of knowing something will happen and it's just a matter of time. It is a saying that comes from the late 1800s when in tenement homes those on the first floor would hear the first shoe drop of their neighbor above and they would wait, knowing the second shoe was going to follow. It brings the idea of being on edge and looking for the evidence that the event is about to come to fruition. Everything gets put on hold while we wait for that shoe to hit the floor.
But, instead of spending our time looking for it, listening and anticipating it, what if we made the best of it. What if since we know it is going to happen, what if we spent the time enjoying what we have: the silence in between the shoes. Let's find the joy in what is actually happening instead of dreading and worrying over what will happen.
I am working hard to take this approach. The situation is not an "if" it will happen, but very clearly a "when" it happens. I could spend my days planning for all the consequences. I could monitor the signs, looking for hints that it is coming. I could raise walls and defenses, or attempt to control the outcomes.
or
I can find the joy in the pause. I can see, feel, and know that right now it is not happening. Right now things are peaceful and quiet. If I enjoy what is happening in this moment, then when the shoe does drop, I will know that I truly experienced the pause. My memories will not be consumed in the worry, angst, and care. Is this what James is talking about in James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy..." and Paul in Philippians 4:11 "... for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."?
To fix my thoughts on what is right now, isn't always easy. Some days it is a struggle to not dwell on that impending second shoe. But when I do get lost in the joy of the pause between shoes, it encourages and spurs me on to keep doing it. I want to keep seeking out those moments. Those joys can never be taken from me, no matter when or how that shoe falls, the time in the pause is mine to hold forever.
Showing posts with label time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label time. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Girl scout cookies
Yes, it is that time of year again: Girl Scout cookies. It is the time when I begin to question my sanity and really wish I could learn to say "NO"! I also begin to question why I bother to make deadlines or why I bother to meet my obligations since apparently half of the "real world" doesn't bother.
On Tuesday the girls and I loaded over 1000 cookies into my van and brought them into our living room to sort into piles for each family in the girl scout troop. My girls were a great help as I was able to sit on the couch and yell out cookies and numbers: "Nathalie, 6 tref; Abby, 38 Sam; Hannah, 14 Dosies...". It only took 2 1/2 hours from start to finish.
Yesterday, Wednesday, was cookie pick up day. Rachel's troop leader was kind enough to drop of Rachel's cookies at my house. As was Hannah and Samantha's troop leader. She picked up her daughter's cookies from my house at the same time. Cookie pick up at my house ran from 5-7PM. Of course, we, in that time period, were feeding animals, making syrup, and cooking dinner. Sam also ran out with Nathalie to go and pick up her cookies from her troop leader's house.
By 7PM I still had 7 families that had not picked up cookies, out of a troop of 15. Not one of these people called. I now will have to call them. Last year I drove cookies around to people's houses. Not gonna happen this year; I have kidding, I have a van that gets 12 miles to the gallon on a good day, and I live completely on the other side of town from everyone else (and it is a big town! 13 miles just for me to get to the center of town).
This is on top of people who didn't turn in their forms on time, said they would email me their orders the very next day and didn't. And if this year is like last year, they won't turn in their money at the deadline either. I will be calling them and trying to arrange a pick up for that too.
I enjoy being cookie mom. It gives me the chance to help out the troop in a way that only involves the month of March. It just seems that each year more and more people are failing to meet the deadlines. To me it just boils down to being inconsiderate. My time is just as important as their time, so please don't waste it.
On Tuesday the girls and I loaded over 1000 cookies into my van and brought them into our living room to sort into piles for each family in the girl scout troop. My girls were a great help as I was able to sit on the couch and yell out cookies and numbers: "Nathalie, 6 tref; Abby, 38 Sam; Hannah, 14 Dosies...". It only took 2 1/2 hours from start to finish.
Yesterday, Wednesday, was cookie pick up day. Rachel's troop leader was kind enough to drop of Rachel's cookies at my house. As was Hannah and Samantha's troop leader. She picked up her daughter's cookies from my house at the same time. Cookie pick up at my house ran from 5-7PM. Of course, we, in that time period, were feeding animals, making syrup, and cooking dinner. Sam also ran out with Nathalie to go and pick up her cookies from her troop leader's house.
By 7PM I still had 7 families that had not picked up cookies, out of a troop of 15. Not one of these people called. I now will have to call them. Last year I drove cookies around to people's houses. Not gonna happen this year; I have kidding, I have a van that gets 12 miles to the gallon on a good day, and I live completely on the other side of town from everyone else (and it is a big town! 13 miles just for me to get to the center of town).
This is on top of people who didn't turn in their forms on time, said they would email me their orders the very next day and didn't. And if this year is like last year, they won't turn in their money at the deadline either. I will be calling them and trying to arrange a pick up for that too.
I enjoy being cookie mom. It gives me the chance to help out the troop in a way that only involves the month of March. It just seems that each year more and more people are failing to meet the deadlines. To me it just boils down to being inconsiderate. My time is just as important as their time, so please don't waste it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
