Choices

I kicked off the day by losing my credit card somewhere between the gas station and home. I was already a stressed because I tried to make physical therapy appointments for the month, wash breakfast dishes, empty the trash, speak with the central air repair man, encourage kiddo to get dressed, compare my purse and kitchen calendars, and listen to the radio from 8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m.

The kid and I had plans to take the High Speed Rail Line into Downtown Minneapolis for the Farmer's Market. Part of me was thinking, abort, abort. Go home.

I was so upset last week that I was sort of bossy with the kid. I wanted us to have some fun. Kiddo did not want to go. I said, "In all the times that I have told you we were going to do something that was going to be fun, did any of those times ever turn out not fun?"

"No."

"Then let's roll."

Sometimes, road blocks pop up making it clear to me that the current plans need to be aborted. I will often pray for roadblocks to help me discern God's will for me in a situation.

But today, I decided to lead with the assumption: just because things are hard or inconvenient, doesn't mean the original decision was wrong. I figured, if things continue to devolve, then I'll know that I should have gone with the abort plan.

Plus, today the temperature was 70 degrees with no humidity. If this field trip to the Farmer's Market was going to work, today was the day. Meandering through the lunch crowds on Nicollet Avenue when it is beastly hot is not fun for 4 year olds or their mothers.

How nice it is to have a choice other than black or white. I used to think things had to be a Mardi Gras or they weren't worth doing. We had a nice lunch. We bought some homegrown strawberries & sugar snap peas, flavored honey, and a mint chocolate chip gelato. I left with some money in my pocket.

I had the choice to withdraw. I had the choice to start over. I had the choice to make the whole thing a big deal. At any given point today, I had a ton of choices. Remembering that I had choices made the all the inconveniences workable.

Later, I spent 20 minutes with the neighbors. I was very peaceful; I didn't talk much. Mostly, I realized that even though they hadn't really changed, offering unsolicited advice, etc. I have. So, it worked. A miraculous change of mind. They don't have to change. I'll be serene in their company when I change. Still, I can't see us having a barbeque tomorrow.