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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Calm (emotionally) (09/13/07)
The caller ID on my cell phone showed his number, I let it go to voice mail. Since it was late Friday morning, I had been thinking that I had dodged that bullet. The scenario I had been imagining in my mind all week had happened. I didn’t even have to answer the call to know that I was right. I am not a negative person, just realistic. Pessimism is not my style but marrying this man with three boys who rule the roost has about done me in. My “go with the flow” attitude is on the verge of drying up. At times, I feel myself slipping into the “glass is half empty” way of looking at life and I hate it.

Homecoming is tonight and I have been waiting all week for the call from the youngest boy saying that he would be coming home. Now at college, only a couple hours from home, he is likely to come home at any time. My husband and I have asked all three boys to call and let us know when they are planning to come home. It has been a sore subject during the five years of our marriage.

My issue is not with his coming home, nor is it with girlfriends or friends of any persuasion, it is with rules and consideration for others, both of which this family lacks. While in high school he brought his first girlfriend home unannounced and while no one else was at home. On the spot, I instituted a rule, one of the very few, all of which I can count on one hand. No girlfriends at the house without prior notice. During her tenure, this rule held. When he moved onto girl number two, the same thing happened. I had to tell him that the rule does not change when he changes girlfriends. During his first year at college he met the third girlfriend, they saw each other on and off during the summer break, intending for the courtship to continue. Knowing this I was expecting him to bring her back at least for the football game, but I was also expecting a call of respect and consideration, which did not happen.

While at work, I received the call saying that he was coming back for homecoming and that he is bringing her with him. This is not prior notice! Feeling half-empty again, I lost it. I was shaking and even before I played back the voice mail, I wanted to throw up. I called his father and after he listened to me rant and rave, he said he was sorry and he wished he could be there to hold me because it sounded like I needed it. Not used to this response to my tirades about how his kids make me crazy, the sobbing stopped; my heart rate went down, and the tears dried up. He finally, at some time, had heard what it was that I needed at times like this. He actually responded. His response calmed me with words that I had told him would help achieve that goal. His past lack of response only caused me to carry on to the point of exhaustion, causing unnecessary weariness for the both of us.

Getting to this state of calmness so quickly did one more thing. It gave me some clarity. As I replayed the conversation with my husband, one thing was clear. I had been “fretting” about this all week, not “praying” about it, but stewing over something that may not even happen. A week’s worth of anxiety could have been soothed away if I had just gone to God in prayer, asking him for him to fill me with his peace. I need to memorize verse eight in chapter four of Philippians: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Next time I see his number on my caller ID, I need to look at it again to see that it is Jesus calling and remember to ask him to guide my heart before letting my natural man take control and before I slide back in to “emptyland”.
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This article has been read 1088 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Grover Gall
09/21/07
Original.
Joy Faire Stewart
09/22/07
It's amazing how we fret over things and just the right word from someone will put it in the right prespective. Excellent reminder to go to God in prayer.
Sheri Gordon
09/24/07
You used a very good illustration as a reminder to all of us.

There were a few issues with tenses. If you could tighten those up, this would be even better.

I really like your line about spending the week "fretting" instead of "praying". Great message.
c clemons
09/26/07
I don't think the previous commenters got what you were saying, but I did. EXCELLENT! Thank you, this spoke to me and really that's what writing is all about. Yes we want to get the tenses and punctuation right but more importantly it's the message. Good job, keep doing what you do.