Friday, March 12, 2010

a friday morning thought

My friend, Gina, wrote something on facebook a few months ago
that I keep going over in my head.
She said, "Embrace the life you didn't expect."
I think it is a wise thing to say. I think it's brilliant even.
Because most of what life throws at you is unexpected.
I'm just not quite sure how to incorporate it into my life.
What does "embrace the life you didn't expect"
mean when I am greeted in the morning by 3 children chanting,
"I see London. I see France. I see Mommy's underpants."
Because I really didn't expect that.
And I assure you that my underpants were not in view as it was being chanted.
I embraced it by saying, "You need to respect me and not do songs about my
underpants or you will not have computer time."
Or when Will came home from school yesterday with his shoes duct taped on because they are in such a state of decomposition.
That isn't the life I expected either.
I kind of expect my kids to look like they have just jumped out of a Gap Kids ad.
Which is an interesting expectation on my part since I don't shop at Gap Kids.
I wish they had a bit more fashion savoir faire.
Will is throwing a "Salvation Army" high couture look right now.
How should I embrace that?
I believe I am embracing it by buying him some new shoes this afternoon.
But this morning Addie came in and climbed up my lap and kissed my face
and told me how glad he is that we are both at home this morning and could
we please go to the McDonald's play land together?
So as soon as we get our clothes on, we will be headed out the door for some fun
and possibly some chocolate milk.
Because we are embracing that,too.

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9 comments:

Leslie said...

Wow. I really like this. "Embrace the life you didn't expect." Well, huh. I could really have cut back on the self-imposed misery in my life, if I'd embraced that philosophy a long time ago. Because life is never what you expect, really! I like to think that sheer exhaustion can lead to embracing it, no? I've had one of those weeks, and rather than cry, I'm just laughing and rolling with it!

Enjoy your shoe shopping and McDonald's lunch!!

Unknown said...

LOVE IT. What a great post! This morning I had a horrible scare that gave me a lot of perspective...I'd love for you to drop by my blog to hear about it. Goes hand in hand with what you wrote.

His Love Extended:
Julie Gorman
http://hisloveextendedministries.com

Kelly @ Love Well said...

Love the quote. It IS profound. Acceptance is a hard thing for most of us. But the sooner we learn to deal with the emotions of our circumstances and trust that God really is sovereign, the sooner we'll know true joy and peace.

Katy W. said...

Hmmm...this is a great thought to chew on all weekend. There are always things we never expect and can't change, and learning to love (embrace) them can bring a whole new level of contentment. Especially considering the fact that the unexpected isn't usually welcome (although that doesn't mean it's always bad)

Thanks for the thought.

Loren said...

Wow! That.is.good! I have spent alot of time over the last few years really learning and recognizing how my expectations can really lead me into disappointment. When I can embrace those things that we don't expect and see them for the gifts that they are....the good, the bad, and yep even those that "annoying days that we want nothing but Calgon to take us away :)"

Blessings to you and I told my hairdresser(s) about your book and that we won!! Can't wait to receive them!! Love how the Lord worked out that my other hair dresser will receive one as well since I won on Lori Sabins blog tooo :) wahoo!! ISNT HE AWESOME how HE worked that out!!

Pilgrim said...

This is a good thought and I like it.
Really, what is our other alternative? Rejecting the life we have? How miserable would THAT make us? Trying to push away the life that God is trying to give us only makes us cranky, irritable, and living with a case of unending PMS.
Life is so much easier when we just go with the flo. It might be hard at first but ultimately it is a lot easier. I've seen this happen so many times in my own life.
Thank you lots for this post!

Rachel said...

This post made me smile. Thanks!

Unknown said...

thanks for the good words... I am embracing even now...

p.s. our day involved sweatpants and frozen yogurt!

Nina said...

Oh my goodness, I loved these lines. They made me laugh..and then smile when I thought of them again.

"I kind of expect my kids to look like they have just jumped out of a Gap Kids ad. Which is an interesting expectation on my part since I don't shop at Gap Kids."

We put so much pressure on ourselves...for things we don't even really value when it comes down to it!