in my head
I plan ahead
and hope that
all works out
until the dread
when those best laid
plans just don’t
pan out
It’s no secret that I get excited easily- and it doesn’t take much! But I am finding that being excited takes a great deal of energy. And if whatever I’m excited about falls through, or doesn’t happen the way I expect- it is a huge emotional drain for me.
But I’m learning how to better manage this.
Because my expectations are actually limitations… because maybe the thing I was expecting is not what God is directing to happen!
Like Thanksgiving…
I think holidays can be a huge let-down. We have this expectation of how we are supposed to celebrate- all our extended family gathered around a table. Singing carols, sharing stories. Happy and full of joy. It doesn’t help that we have all of our acquaintances and friends on social media posting all of their camera worthy moments (me included!)- which just puts even more pressure on everyone to have the perfect day!
But my hubby woke up under the weather on Thanksgiving. We were supposed to travel to see both of our families, but he called his family and made the decision to stay home. I knew it would be a huge let down for us all to stay home, so I drove with the girls to see his family and then to have dinner with my family. It’s about a 3 hour drive each way.
After a fabulous dinner at my sister’s house, we started the drive home. Those 3 hours took forever.
All day I felt like I was missing something, and I couldn’t wait to be home.
As the girls and I pulled into the driveway, I saw the happiest sight. My hubby’s face was pressed against the window, waiting for us.
I was so happy to be home! And even better was how happy my hubby was to see all of us!
If he hadn’t stayed home, I wouldn’t have had that sweet homecoming- and I wouldn’t have experienced the feeling of missing my hubby all day.
In the words of an old hair-spray band song by Cinderella-
“You don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone.”
I Sing Because I'm Free 