Using Your God-Gifted Tools

The tangibles:Starbucks. French pedicures. Flowers on my bedside table. A glass of wine and a good book.
These objects downright delight me. All crashing together into one positive fantastic day? In the words of the always articulate Kevin Bacon..."Jump back!" I mean, throw in a block of Butterkase and some crackers and you've got yourself a perfect day! Let's say for the purpose of argument, that one of these "perfect days' was unfolding.
What can destroy it?
A series of tedious, "no-big-deal-until-the-third-person-cuts-in-front-of-you--narrowly-missing-your-newly-
pedicured-foot-with-their-cart-only-to-come-to-a-complete-stop-and-block-your-view-of-the-ENTIRE-
imported-cheese-section" events. And why? Why do we constantly allow things that, if we had a little more patience and a little less of a "NOW-NOW-NOW" attitude, wouldn't bother us?
OK. All of that was misleading. You thought I was going somewhere with all of this; especially after creating a mental picture of something that strikes a little close to home.
Clearly, I don't have an answer. I'm a hot mess just like the rest of you most of the time. All I know is that we CAN make ourselves happy if we try and we CAN put a little more faith in The Big Guy to provide clarity, sort everything out and lead us down a path of iced white mochas and sweet smooth dairy products. I think it at least starts there. We need to use the tools He gives us though.
Perhaps you've heard the story/joke of the man who wouldn't leave his house during the flood of '93? Authorities drove to his house and said, "Sir, the rain's not stopping. You need to evacuate."
The man said, "No. God will save me."
They came back in a boat and pulled up to his second-story window saying, "Sir you are going to drown if you don't come with us. This flood is not stopping!"
The man said, "God will save me."
They finally came by helicopter and said, "This is your last chance Sir. You need to come with us!"
Again, the man said, "God will save me."
When the man drowned and went to heaven, he asked God, "Why didn't you save me? I put all my faith in you and I still died. How could you do that?!"
God replied, "I sent you a car, a boat, and a helicopter. What else was I supposed to do?"
This is meant to be a silly story but it is BURSTING with truth. God gives us what we need in order to handle every situation that we come across...even the little sassafras that cuts in front of you at the cheese counter. We just need to listen and use the tools provided. It's cliche but He doesn't give us any trauma or drama that we can't handle.
To finish off this here blog, let me tell you about the many tools in my life...no pun intended. (Spoiler alert...I get gushy here and you might want to avert your eyes, but I want to prompt you to take inventory of your own toolbox whether you read this last part or not.)
My husband is my rock. When I feel I am at my weakest he's there to pick me up, throw me over his shoulder and carry me through the gauntlet. My daughter is my sunlight. She doesn't even realize it, but Natjobla can make me laugh when I feel like breaking everything made of glass in any given room of the house. My Lauren is my mirror. She sees everything beautiful in me and everything ugly and reflects herself right back to me without embarrassment, ridicule or judgement. She gets me...because in most ways, she is me. My family is the string tied around my finger. They remind me who I am and where I came from...of the values and morals that shaped me. My friends are my glue. My Elmer's. The good stuff. They hold me together. Every.Single.Day.
My challenge to those who read this: realize and understand the tools God has given you. Use them. Never neglect them. Hold onto them for dear life...because that is exactly what they are.