The calendar and the brisk morning air have agreed that summer is over and autumn has arrived. It was time for me to get on the same page and decorate for fall. Understand that this is not a huge production here in this minimalist’s life, but I do like a few sunflowers, a few pumpkins, and a bright orange dish cloth. (It’s the little things.)
The moment for me to haul out the fall decor totes arrived unexpectedly—and in the midst of frustration. The only item on my do-list that Friday was to create a Christmas stocking for my youngest granddaughter. Pulling out the cranberry and green fabric, I realized that I was missing some essential pieces—two tiny buttons. Small but important, and the whole project had to go on hold.
Resist Frustration by Persevering in Gratitude
My immediate response was FRUSTRATION! I had the day off, I had planned to tackle the job, I had already spread materials all over the dining room table, and a trip to a fabric or craft supply store (at least 45 minutes away) was out of the question.
I had to make a choice, and (let’s be honest), it took some prayer and some self-talk, but eventually my heart found its way to gratitude. I thanked God for the unexpected time to decorate for fall. I went for a walk and thanked God that I get to live in the midst of so much beauty. I picked the last of the red tomatoes and gave thanks for my garden and the ability to bend and balance.
Mandy Farmer knows about frustrating days. She has struggled with the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia long enough to know that chronic illness moves into a home and takes up lots of space in the family. Soft Hugs for Mommy portrays the challenges from a child’s point of view—the impact on family activities, the extra doctor appointments, and the way chronic illness depletes a parent’s energy. Perseverance in gratitude is key to navigating our suffering, and Farmer offers very practical examples of how gratitude practices can make even the hard days better.
The search for purple ribbons representing fibromyalgia is a fun feature of the picture book that will engage little readers’ attention. Parents struggling with chronic illness will be blessed and encouraged by the reminder that a mommy with chronic illness is still a great mommy. “She just needs soft hugs.”
In Soft Hugs for Mommy, Mandy Farmer portrays the challenges of life with a chronic illness from a child’s point of view. #fibromyalgia #bookreview @mandolyn1025
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Resist Frustration by Taking Action
Mandy’s wisdom isn’t just for little people. Frustration barges into every life in some form, and those two missing buttons had the power to derail my entire Friday. I’m grateful that, instead, I shifted gears and rethought my list for the day.
I know that many of you are dealing with devastating disappointments, the kind of frustration that can’t be resolved with a trip to Hobby Lobby. However, here’s one thing I know: A minor frustration in the form of a derailed project and a delayed checkmark on my do-list is practice for the real thing. Taking grace for the minor frustrations of life prepares me for the bigger, life-altering challenges.
Paul, always a man of gratitude and action, admitted that he was often hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and even struck down. Yet, he was not crushed by his circumstances, knowing that he was “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:10)
Even in the midst of frustration and unmet goals, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, everywhere you go you take the kingdom of God with you. Even if frustration seems like the biggest thing in the room, you can move on because the “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in [your] heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Frustration may come to you in a thousand devastating forms, so much bigger than my little set back:
- Waiting for the results of medical tests
- Receiving the diagnosis and wondering what’s next
- Clearing up a misunderstanding with your child’s teacher
- Sitting on hold while you try to untangle an insurance issue
- Waiting up into the wee hours for a teen who’s out past curfew
- Working through the same argument for the millionth time with your spouse
- Listening to lame excuses from an underperforming co-worker
Offer your frustration to God and then do the next thing.
Holding you in the light,
Frustration may come to you in a thousand devastating forms. Offer your frustration to God and then do the next thing.
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Wonderful post, Michele. I dare say there are a number of us Type A’s who can become frustrated when our plans go awry. Thank you for sharing from your experience and wisdom–wisdom such as: “Taking grace for the minor frustrations of life prepares me for the bigger, life-altering challenges.” I love your gratitude list that helped calm the frustration–a good example to follow. Thank you also for sharing Mandy Farmer’s story, which definitely gives us perspective for to-do-list snafus and the like!
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I hadn’t thought about that connection between frustration and personality type but you are absolutely right.
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Loved this for today!
Each day I ask God not my will but your will what does He want me to do today?
Linda
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May we NEVER stop asking!
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I’ve gotten easily derailed by frustrations, too. Especially when I have asked God to guide my planning, then something happens to disrupt my plans. Somehow, it’s easier to trust God for the bigger issues of life sometimes than the everyday frustrations.
I agree these things give us practice in the bigger things as well.
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Yes, I find myself with the same out-of-proportion frustration over the petty things. I think it’s because we think we can “handle” them and the “big” things—we take grace for them…
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