I’m hesitant to say that today was a bad day, but by 12:30 this afternoon I was DONE. I slept too late this morning, muddled through my quiet time, didn’t get to drink any coffee and by noon I had a screaming headache. Plus, my parents’ internet was down and there was a small bloggy ish-ah I needed to handle before we drove back to Alabama. But I couldn’t handle it. Because there was no internet. And did I mention that I had a headache? I WANTED THE WORLD TO PAY.
On the way out of town the little guy and I stopped at Hardee’s, where I ordered a couple of hamburgers and THE BIGGEST DIET COKE THEY OFFER, and as we pulled up to the window I realized that A. had gotten something stuck in one of my car chargers. Even though it really wasn’t a big deal, I sighed and I flailed and I made all my frustrations known, and when I looked over at the sweet girl in the drive-thru so that she could hand me our lunch, she smiled at me and said, “Ma’am? Could you please pull up to the white line until your food is ready?”
There was something about all her sweet sincerity that sent me right over the edge. Because I WAS TRYING TO BE GRUMPY, DADGUMMIT. I was enjoying my grumpy and wanted to wallow around in my grumpy and then she just had to go and pour a big ole bag of nice all over me.
So I responded as any good Christian girl would: I punched the gas and roared up to the white line. It was only after I hit the brakes that I realized that Bob and Larry were singing “You Are Holy” on the CD player.
Hello, irony. So nice of you to make an appearance at the Hardee’s.
After we got our food and started driving back home, I thought about my bad mood and how I’m a GROWN WOMAN and really should have more control over my emotions at this point than to damage my testimony while I’m in the Hardee’s drive-thru. I mean, I was so bent out of shape while we were waiting at the white line that the six year-old spoke up from the back seat and said, “Remember, this is supposed to be a HAPPY day, Mama – we get to see Daddy!”
Meanwhile, I was sitting in the driver’s seat wishing that I could double-dog dare the cute girl in the drive-thru to smile at me one more time. Just one more time. SO I COULD GO AHEAD AND SCREAM.
This past Sunday morning I flew home from North Carolina after a weekend where I was surrounded by encouraging people and sat under some phenomenal teaching. I laughed A LOT. It’s pretty easy to put on (and keep on) your happy face when you’re staying at a great hotel and you’re all up in the Word and there’s a lovely breakfast buffet in the lobby. I was prayed up and praised up. Couldn’t wait to tell my husband all about it when I got home. And when I drove to my parents’ house Tuesday afternoon, I cranked up my worship music like nobody’s business.
But then there was today.
As I made my way down I-20 this afternoon and tried to figure out how I made it from the mountaintop to the edge of the valley in less than 48 hours, I had a little bit of an epiphany somewhere between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham: God is showing me that there’s still way too much of me in me. Too much pride. Too much ugliness. Too much self-righteousness. Too much selfishness.
And that realization totally shifted my perspective. Oh yes ma’am. You’d better believe it did. Because the problem with today wasn’t my circumstances. The problem with today was me and my stupid humanness.
So Thursday, it wasn’t one of my favorites. It’s not a very good feeling to realize that a person WHO JUST FINISHED KINDERGARTEN responded to a situation with more wisdom and self-control than I did. It’s not very fun to remember how out of sorts I can get about ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
But even though Thursday wasn’t one of my favorites, it really was good.
Because I have a Father who patiently loves me and changes me and teaches me every single day.
Even if I have to show out a little bit in the Hardee’s drive-thru to learn the lesson.
“So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children He loves.” – Psalm 107:9
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You sure make our night shift sooo much sweeter! (remember me?) And I guess there is always room for a revelation…. even though we think you are perfect, absolutely just perfect!
Thanks for sharing–I have too many moments like that myself. SO grateful for His “miracle mercy to the children He loves!” Hugs from Paris!
Wow, I had the same thing going on, too! And to make things even worse, it was my birthday! I can’t figure out why I was so bent out of shape over something that was really not that important, but as the day went on I got increasingly grumpy and increasingly vocal about it. And entitled. I mean it was my birthday, shouldn’t the day go just the way *I* wanted it to and shouldn’t I get whatever *I* wanted? Apparently not and man, did I ever resent it.
Thanks for sharing this with us. It really has helped me a lot to read this. My goal is to act a bit more mature today and GET OVER MYSELF ALREADY.
Honestly, it sounds like PMS.
Thanks for being so transparent! It is hard enough sometimes to admit to ourselves that we need to quit the pity party, but to admit it publicly takes an extra measure of humility. So good for you!
And I hope tomorrow is a happier day! :)
Well said.
Love your blog – and this post is one of the reasons why.
Must have been something in the air – I had some things going on yesterday morning, but on my drive I was struck by the realization that though I mess up, I serve a God who gives me a second (and third, fourth, etc.) chance, a God who forgives me, a God who loves me anyway.
Guilt, get thee behind me!
Very well said. Something I needed to hear too. I took my grumpiness out on my sweet 9 year old, who said to me, “I feel like I can’t do anything right.” If that isn’t a big ol’ slap in the face to get over myself, I don’t know what is. Thanks for the reminder about our loving, forgiving Father.
Please tell me she gave you your Diet Coke before you pulled to the yellow line. It would just be cruelty if she didn’t.
Hey! I’ve had that day! I hope you have a better day today :)
the only response I have to your perfect description of feelings yesterday is-I KNOW, ugh!!!!!
and Amen.
:)
Good gollee – I had that same day yesterday. Well – minus the Hardee’s drive-thru. Mine was during a planning session of an upcoming women’s retreat at my church. nice. . . Thankfully my inner ‘fit’ did not ‘spew’ all over them but it pretty well set me up in a funk the rest of the day. I FINALLY thought to take it to the Lord, I fell before Him. And now I need to act forgiven and get over the guilt. Oh – and do better today.
Bless you for your transparency. You also made me laugh…sad to say we’ve all been where you were at that point in time. As the saying goes..out of the mouths of babes. I am so grateful too for a God who gives me that second, third,fourth, etc chance. He is so beautiful and great. Thanks for reminding us.
Thanks for sharing, BooMama. I think I was on the fast track to a similar day, until I read this post. I’m sure if my daughter could talk, she would thank you!
Thanks for sharing this, BooMama. Well said and Amen.
Honestly, your best post for me because it hit home too hard. Been trying so hard, missing the mark, stressed over the little things and totally missing the big picture, school is about to start and I have been a grump for two days because I OVERSCHEDULED my family.
It’s my fault, but I am gonna have a good Friday.
Love you for being you.
Great post! Great reminder.
A fantastic sermon. My Friday will be a better day for having read this. The Lord is Good.
I seem to hav waaay too many moments like that lately.
i needed to hear that. that even the “best” falter…
You took the words right out of my mouth. All I can muster up is a, “Thank you” and an “Amen!” : )
I don’t usually comment on here because you’ve got so many people reading and commenting I just figure my words will get lost in the abyss :) But I just have to say that what you wrote here struck such a chord in my own heart!
” It’s pretty easy to put on (and keep on) your happy face when you’re staying at a great hotel and you’re all up in the Word and there’s a lovely breakfast buffet in the lobby. I was prayed up and praised up…the problem with today wasn’t my circumstances. The problem with today was me and my stupid humanness”
Isn’t that the truth! Thanks so much for this timely and insightful post!!
Loved this post. We all need this reminder once in a while.
What is it about those mountain tops?? I’ve decided that the devil sets a booby trap – a pit o’ nasty covered in a thin veil normal – directly at the bottom of the mountain. Or, in my case, the moment I got my luggage unstuck from the revolving door of the hotel! I pretty much plummeted into the muck and mire from there. Sigh.
Thanks for the perspective gained from your back seat (and for the perspective you gave this weekend – always good to see you!).
Blessings,
Melinda
Good one.
There isn’t a single one of us that hasn’t been there. Thanks for the reminder! You are so appreciated.
Great post, lady!
Ouch, BooMama – you went & stepped all over my toes. I’ve had a rough week, and an especially rough morning, and it occurs to me that 99.9% of the reason is selfishness. Stubbornly clinging to my petty desires & plans, when there are bigger things happening. There are babies growing up right before my eyes…a husband who is trying his hardest to be the best husband, father, and employee he can be…and family and friends who could really use my love & support & help.
Thanks for stepping on my toes. I needed it.
I love this post! I really needed to hear that-I don’t often get it all put together while I’m still waiting on the food at the white line.
Thanks for all the realness and such.
And I had to spit hot coffee out (rather than let it go through my nose) when I read:
“Hello, irony. So nice of you to make an appearance at the Hardees.”
Thank you for reminding us that a conference or twelve doesn’t make us holy; the DAILY (every single stinkin day) surrender to HIM is what will give us the holiness we need to get through the day without mentally cursing out drive-thru girl at the Hardees. Amen.
Man – that was good. How profound experiences like that can be right? I appreciate you sharing that learning experience with us as I have “those days” often. Love your son’s heart – that ought to tell you what example he usually sees huh?
Oh my word, I wasn’t prepared for the toe-stepping… but it’s obvious from these first few comments that I’m not the only one who shares in these experiences with you… God’s timing is perfect — I think we’ll all have a happier Friday and weekend because of your post!
Thanks~
….I’ve met my own worst enemy and that enemy is ME…….words so true.
Thanks for sharing.
Suzanne
Loved the “bag of nice” she poured out all over you! classy.
Thank you for that. I had a very similar episode this morning. I’ve never commented before but felt I really needed to. I owe a certain pre-kindergartener a big hug and apology when I pick him up from daycare. Thank you again.
Our feelings and emotions are so fickle. It’s amazing how God can speak to us through the words of a young child!!! :)
This is a GOOD word! And I love the heart of your little guy – I still often think about his comment maybe a year ago “becasue the rain makes things grow”. Beautiful to see the Lord in you – in your humanness!
Sounds like my Thursday went about the same as yours. And I think you need to know that I handled my emotions almost EXACTLY the same way you did. Only I was at the Home Depot, not Hardees. Just a little further down I-20 in Atlanta.
Oh Boo, I so loved this!
This is why I love you! I can relate to you.
Isn’t it amazing how God wakes us up at places like the fast food drive-thru window? Most humbling.
I’m often at my worst in the drive-thru window. But you said something in this post that I hope will stick with me every time I approach a drive-thru. AND a typically unpleasant fast food experience.
It’s not the circumstances! It’s the “RENA”!
It’s me. And thank God that he allows the circumstances to open our eyes.
Great food for thought!
Now if I just had one of those extra large Diet Cokes to go with it.
;)
I REALLY needed this today – thank you!
“Momma said there’d be days like, there’d be days like this Momma said… Momma said, Momma said”. We’ve all had them, but I’m thankful the Lord showed up in the Hardee’s drive-thru for yours.
I really admire how you put yourself out here for all to read.
I don’t know you at all but I feel like I do…in a good way,
Your love of Jesus and the word is good for me to hear.
Thanks for sharing
I enjoy your blog. Isn’t amazing God loves us in spite of our attitued!!
What a great post! I tend to blame my circumstances instead of realizing that there is just too much me. Beautifully said.
Not too long ago I showed out in the Hardees drive thru. I had to wait almost 10 minutes for a biscuit and then when I handed the girl my money, poor thing did not have any change. When I finally got my change and biscuit I just sped away. Then I got convicted because I did not reflect Jesus and the cashier really needed to see Jesus and not me. Oh, the lessons God can teach us in a Hardee’s drive thru!
Oh BooMama you have me all choked up this morning, that was a good one!!
I can relate to every single word, and I am also thankful for our God of Grace. I did laugh when you put the pedal to the metal at the Hardees, not that I have ever done anything like that.
Oh Sophie, I can’t even tell you how much I needed this. I feel like everyday I’ve been “damaging my testimony”- kids fighting, not wanting to clean but then getting in a bad mood because my house is a mess… not a pretty girl. But I am convicted that I am just not spending good QUALITY time with the Lord- I’ve been doing the same thing and am muddling through my quiet time and it’s resulting in a very ugly person. God used you to speak to me today!
Are you sure you weren’t writin’ about me?
Thank God for forgiveness and grace.
Yep. Beautiful and authentic. Jesus meets us even in the ugly.
Sophie, we are on the same page today….you learned a lesson from the Lord at Hardy’s and I learned one through a horned toad in my garden. Isn’t God incredible? I love how He uses anything He chooses to teach us more about Him. Only God could do that! I cried through your post as I cried through writing mine today. Thanks for sharing your joys and your honesty with all of us. You are a blessing!
I had a similar experience yesterday. I wondered in the car, after giving my daughter a lecture about having a bad attitude, if my kids will remember me as being too harsh. Who am I to give my sweet 9-yr old a lecture about being flexible and not pouting too much, when I do the exact same thing! I had a massive headache and wanted a diet coke so bad I could’ve died. I ran in the Dollar Tree next to grab one before I did school shopping with all 3 kids and they were all hot!! Really hot – bummer. I muddled through the shopping with a fairly level head – only a few episodes with the kids and then gulped down gallons a sweet refreshment at lunch. I came home and stayed in the bed the rest of the day!
I lay there freaking out about the fact that work starts on Monday. I think I had a small panic attack and lay there wallowing in self-pity.
Today I am seriously wanting a DC and we are out – this never happens and I am trying to figure out how to get one. I have searched everywhere for a lone can but it is nowhere to be found. I guess I’ll have to get dressed like a big girl and go to the store.
I often wonder how I end up in the desert so often. I realize that I have to go to Him. Read His Word, have Christian fellowship, try.
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