Last weekend we went to cheer from the sidelines for our friends who worked many hours on a Christmas float. This float promoted Horses With a Mission, Inc and equine therapy. Their dedication to helping people with special needs deserves much cheering!
My antlers were on, Buddy had his jingle bells too, and we had our camping chairs ready, but where was the Christmas parade? Well, when you position yourself at the end of the route, there is typically a wait. It seemed like a good idea to avoid getting stuck in traffic, but the waiting started to wane my Christmas Cheer.
Waiting is hard. In our society today it seems we don't really count patience as a virtue, but it is. According to oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com, the word is defined: the ability to stay calm and accept delay or something annoying without complaining. This particular day I started to second guess myself if we had parked in the right place. Why was I re-evaluating? Or was I really complaining about my decision instead of being content of the spot we chose? I was becoming a Scrooge!
Re-evaluating our decisions can lead to complaining and wondering, "Did I make the right decision or what if something better was out there?" Complaining leads to discontentment and discontentment leads to frustration, annoyance or grumbling. As we allow our complaints to brew they can easily serve us up a headache or neckache.
My kudos to you today: be present in the moment. Release your thoughts of "being stuck" to embracing the environment of your current situation. Try an attitude of gratitude for others and yourself, simple things, like your eye sight, sounds of life, even crying children.
As we continued to wait, a lonely passerby noticed Buddy. He said, "I like your dog, may I pet him?" I welcomed the conversation and we had a friendly chat about dogs. After he left I knew then why we had gotten there early AND why we were waiting. I forgot all about "the waiting" and relaxed to enjoy fresh air. Buddy agreed as he sensed my perspective change. He looked up at me and gave me a big lick. He was glad that I had responded to Christmas Cheer, and left my grumbling behind for smiles, laughter, and the sounds of the marching band!
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him. To the person who seeks him. Psalm 40:1
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1
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