Just because I can do it all by myself, doesn't mean I should. Also, delegation is very different from sitting back and watching people do my work for me.
We'd planned a week ahead to have an ice cream social at my house to celebrate my good friend Charlotte. It worked out that the party fell the day after Dad's surgery. Because I had been at the ER and with my grandma Friday, I wasn't able to get as much of the cleaning done like I had wished. But, because I was determined to do so, I spent several hours to get the house in order. During this time, I had two offers for assistance. I did not accept these offers, though, because I was determined to provide a party for everyone to enjoy. Why should my guests have to work? So, I was rather tired by the time the party started and groaned audibly when I saw one of the guests brought Risk. Fortunately, my sarcastic sense of humor kicked in to save my guests from embarrassment. Application: When people offer help and the task at hand is easily divided, take them up on it. If they didn't actually want their offer of help accepted, they won't offer next time!
The Holy Spirit is a very good cook!
When cooking, I frequently have people telling me to follow my instincts. In general, this is good advice. I can call on past experiences, knowledge about good flavor combinations, etc. to increase and improve my current dish's flavor profile. Throughout my past weeks (were they really only two?) of cooking, I kept relying on a little voice that wasn't "me." I'd want to add something more to a dish because it was seemingly flat, but I would not because that authoritative voice told me to hold back. This meal would go over well, especially for the convalescing patient. But, He advises on more than how to make good hospital food. Yes, He even guides the making of smoothies and helps improve existing "go-to"/"signature" dishes. My stove-top (rather than oven-baked) curry chicken, for instance, was the best I've ever made. My instincts told me to put in a can of diced tomatoes and increase the chicken broth, but the voice said to just stick with coconut milk throughout the cooking process. What an enjoyable cooking experience! I partnered with God to make supper! What a simple yet profound time.
When unsettled feelings and anxiousness take over, turn on some Third Day (or whatever is appropriate), grab a tissue if desired, and plop down supine.
"Your Love, Oh Lord," "King of Glory," and "Agnus Dei/Worthy" provided me with a good refocus time and got me through a day where I was convinced I was going to explode (which would have been messy and just another thing I'd have had to deal with...). This was the most important lesson I (re)learned. I'm not exactly sure it was, but I think it was Martin Luther, who would spend hours in prayer daily. The more tasks he had to complete in the day, the more time he spent in prayer. When I first heard this several years ago, my practical mind thought it strange. Now I understand. The more hectic a day will be, the more overwhelming a task seems, the more I need to make sure I spend time focused solely on God so I can go through my day partnered with Him and His peace. I feel called to be a beacon of peace and tranquility. I don't know how well I succeed at that normally. However, I know I certainly, utterly fail when I figuratively, and somewhat literally, plow over people with an attitude of "don't even talk to me! I have to get this, this, and this--oh, and don't forget this--done!"
"Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep."
Psalm 36:5-6a
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