Attitude Adjustment

Has anyone else discovered that cars have a knack for knowing when it is NOT a good time to break and deciding to break right at that moment? I recently took my car in to the mechanic thinking it just needed the fan belt replaced.  I left in a loaner car because mine was much more then the fan belt, and was actually unsafe to drive.  Here is the beginning of my adjustment from God.  As we drove down the road in the loaner car, that I might add is from somewhere in the late 80's, Paityn commented on how the car was embarrassing and asked if we could just go home (instead of running errands as we originally planned.) We actually both laughed out loud.  At that moment I looked at her and asked her, "does it run? and is it safe?" When she answered yes to both questions I reminded her that she heard what the mechanic said about my vehicle being unsafe to drive and how we needed to thankful that we at least had a safe car to drive.  We drove that car for the remainder of the weekend and had many good laughs about the whole situation.  At one point Paityn even said that they should have a car retirement home because this car was obviously too old.  As much as we enjoyed the entertainment that came from this vehicle, I returned it to the mechanic realizing that I take some every day things for granted.

The speedometer of the loaner car... It only went to 85

Attitude adjustment, did I mention that I have been receiving one of those?

Well, sadly the second and final part of my attitude adjustment comes from the fact that I work in the emergency room.  It is no secret that patients often come to the ER for reasons that are frustrating to the staff.  However, lately I have been struck by the other type of patients that come into our facility.  How about the mother who comes in with a headache only to find out that she has a bleed in her brain and her family is rushing to her side not knowing if she will make it.  Or the wife that arrives after finding out her husband is in surgery after a terrible car accident; the medical staff fighting to save his life.  What about the teams of people who come to harvest for organ donations after that same man doesn't make it.  One family so struck by sadness, while other families all across the nation are rejoicing in new opportunities and futures ahead of them. I recently said that you can't work in the local trauma center and lack for opportunities to pray.

It isn't that I am an unthankful person.  I just feel like these few little things are reminding me on a daily basis that we all take parts of life for granted.  I don't think of just avoiding going to bed angry, but try to remember that I also need to live every moment of my day not wasting time in any area. How about being thankful for forgiveness.  Not being given forgiveness, but actually being the one to offer the forgiveness, even when unwanted. There are people that you just don't want to forgive, but God provides us the opportunity to have the relief of forgiveness.  What about taking moments for things such as extra hugs, winks across the room and eskimo kisses with your child.


I recently was listening to Klove and heard an advertisement about sending them your Christmas wish for someone else.  As I began to think about it I had to chuckle at myself.  I couldn't think of a single person that I wanted to give a physical thing to at all.  All I could think of were the families who need God's peace during this holiday season.  The people who will find joy at discovering a relationship with my Lord; and the opportunities that I am given on a daily basis to grow closer to God, my family and friends.  The reason for my laughter was because I had the scene from Miss Congeniality in my mind where she answers the pagents question and at the very end adds, "...and world peace!"  My answer wasn't an afterthought addition, but my whole thought... God's peace for all who need it this holiday season.

As we enter this time of Christmas I hope that you can all remember that sometimes God puts you back in time (in cars that are almost as old as you) and/or offers opportunity see and feel suffering so that you can be reminded of just what exactly it is that we have in him.

For, now I am thankful for the adjustment that God so kindly handed me and hope that someone else can enjoy the "ancient" loaner car that was a huge blessing to us!!!