Two Busy Weeks!!!

It seems as though I have finally reached the top of the proverbial mountain and can now take a break, rest, and reflect on the trip up to the summit.

Those people who keep making retirement look like a life of leisure and luxury have been leading us all astray. Some of us are old enough now to be able to tell everyone how insane that old idea is. No, you don't get to relax and leisurely lay around and play when your are old--unless you are in a nursing home. And if you are in a nursing home, you may not be in any condition to play.

An older person let me in on this a couple of decades ago. I don't even remember who it was. I do remember the person told me that when you get older you get busier!! I was shocked to hear that!! Busier?! How could I get busier than I was?! But it has turned out to be true!!

It was true even before we got Gabe in our family. Now it is even more true!

This past two weeks were no exception to that norm. The week before this past week Gabe and I had two medical appointments and my car broke down and had to have a major repair. This past week there were no medical appointments but somehow I managed to keep busy every single evening with something. I had two lessons and a vocal solo to prepare for church as well as my usual Monday through Friday client and my Tuesday evening client for my second job--Intensive Behavioral Intervention therapist for a private non-profit agency.

Beside this, there were the usual house cleaning and other odd jobs around the home, a little 4-year-old to look after whenever Claudia was working or busy, and, since the 20th and 25th were both pay days for me, we had some shopping to do. With Claudia back to work 6 hours per day, things got real messy and frustrating. On top of all this there was the prescription med I ran out of and had to do without this week--too busy during my work day at the school to remember to take care of this problem, obviously. (Maybe some day I will learn!!)

We have added some additional therapies for Gabe this past week and he has been to the dentist and had his mouth pronounced "healthy" with no cavities. Our insurance also refused to pay for that visit (they are correcting this they said), just adding to our stress level.

I want to say something funny, but recounting all of this has only generated some low level humor:

I want to think I am helping and blessing the lives of as many people as I can. After all, I was blessed with a beautiful tenor voice and so many people really enjoyed my solo today--lots of compliments!!! People also complimented me on my lessons or, at least, thanked the Lord for them in a closing prayer. (What does one expect when teaching 12 and 13 year olds?) The truth is I have not been sufficiently sensitive in ministering to the needs of those around me.

I have heard the saying: "No rest for the wicked."  Many years ago someone in my life added to that, "And the righteous don't need any."

Let's see: "No rest for the wicked and the righteous don't need any." Hmmm. So am I wicked or righteous? Using these two statements as a test I have to say I cannot determine the answer to that question. "No rest" pretty much sums up my present situation. That is as far as it goes.

For certain I am not accomplishing some important tasks that are long overdue. These are the "shoulds" in my life. Like the understanding cognitive behavioralist I am I tell myself to quit shoulding on myself. But I know I must keep doing my best for all of us.

The song I performed today in church--"You're Not Alone" by Michael MacLean did bring comfort to those who heard it. This time of the year it is a very important message for people to hear.

Always remember you are not alone--He is there. He is either walking beside you or carrying you, for he loves us all more than we know!