The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good Day

There are days my daughters say to me "Mom, today was the worst day ever." I think back and remember a couple of mishaps but nothing earth shattering. I begin with the old standby, "Now, let's think of all the good things that happened today."

Yesterday was one of those days that I know God must be whispering in my ear "Now, let's think. . .". The whole day started off on the wrong foot (or should I say two feet) when I did what a lot of women do the Monday after a holiday,  . . .  step on the scales. ugghhhhh! I had worked so hard over the last weeks to hit the weight I was last Thursday when the long Valentines weekend began. Now, here I was up 4, yes -- count them, 4 pounds! I stepped off in horror and dismay. I stepped back on, even leaning slightly backwards which sometimes tricks the scale to give a couple of digital ounces in my favor (desperate -- I know) and nope, it wouldn't budge. It threw my confidence for the whole day.

On the upside, after a deep and difficult time of reflection, I finally started a food diary counting calories and carbs. I have a long way to go to lose the 20 I want to lose and every diet book says to diary what you eat to keep yourself accountable through the day. I avoided the laborious task until yesterday when properly motivated. Low in behold, those 4 pounds were gone today. The body is an incredible creation.

I won't go into depth on the other oddities of the day like a painful tooth, a blown transformer on my three year old oven or the pouring rain all the way to acting class where my lack of confidence made me bomb the class in my new colorful as required solid shirt that was deemed too shiny for the camera.

Okay, back to the good. Hmmmm, daughter with oddly swollen finger, other daughter with a sore throat that may or may not be strep. Okay, doesn't sound too good but today was much better when we learned that one did not have strep (so now I don't have too feel guilty about her being at a friend's last night) and the other simply had a virus in her fingertip that would go away in a couple of days. Again, our bodies are such incredible creations which takes me around to the good of what God has created in us.

Genesis 1:27,31 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. . . . God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And, there was evening, and there was morning -- the sixth day."

To find the good is a mandate by God's very example. In the "bad" days that seem filled reasons to be negative, bitter, and angry, there is way to stop, reflect and rise above. In each day, there are important lessons to be learned -- for the good!

In acting class, I am learning that you might not get a second chance if you blow the audition. We are being prepared to improvise, to be ready with an answer, to know how to incorporate our mistakes into our routine and move through the tough spots. You probably won't get a chance to start over when the clients are standing in front of you. Work out the roughness in your routine in your own time.

In my Christian counseling class, I am learning to take advantage of the moment. You might not get a second chance to share the hope in God's word if you don't plant at least a seed the first time. If you don't, what if the person never comes back?

In dieting, I am learning that the moment I sit down to large chocolate piece of cake it will hurt me for days to come. That very moment, I have to count calories and carbs and make a choice. Do I want to see my long-term goals realized or do I want the immediate pleasure now?

In all of the above, I am learning that realizing long term goals, of sharing the hope I have in Christ, of successfully acing an audition or interview or of obtaining my goal weight means being all I need to be now, in the moment. Being ready means being prepared, learning scripture, practicing my lines, buying the right food at the grocery store. All of these take self-discipline and self control which don't come easy but are doable in God's strength, love, grace and mercy.

A day that started out with incredible disillusionment and discouragement actually ended with a deep, self-realizing reflection that must have been from the Holy Spirit because it came just when I needed it and enabled me to see exactly what God wanted me to learn on a day that could have been a terrible, horrible, no-good day. God blessed it and taught me through it. Now, there's the fresh new day ahead to go and apply. Here's to going and growing!

Comments

[Laurel]

I am so happy to hear that the Drs apt went well. This is an inspiring post, blessings on your day.

[dcrmom]

I'm so glad that today was a better day! :-)

And the shirt was too shiny! PISH! You looked gorgeous in it.

[Denitra's Den]

Yeah, you lost the 4 pounds! (Wish I could say the same for me:)

I hate doing the diary thing, but I know I've got to get back to it. I do it online on Fitday.com when I do it. Come to think of it - one of my New Year's "intentions" was to log on there at least once a week. . .ooops, I better get to it!