Bird Plop?

Dear Reader,

It is 9:13AM, which is not so early to some. Plenty of people are on their way to work or are already seeing to whatever task their boss has set before them or delegating the orders of the day. To me, however, at this very moment, it feels like it might as well be 5AM. I did sleep, up until my husband's alarm alerted us it was time for him to roll out of bed and prepare for his job. He did not leap out of bed, but rather layed there, informing me that he did not sleep well. I realized I was in pain and as a result could not find a comfortable position, which prevented me from retrieving anymore shut eye. I groaned, rolled on my back and remained fixed in that spot for awhile. The light was on at that point, so Ray summoned up some strength to propel him out of our bed.

A short time later, he returned and flopped on the bed. I am not a morning person by any stretch, and the times where an event has necessitated an early rising, I find myself quite irritable, lethargic and nauseated. I can only imagine what doing that every morning feels like, especially when it is not even for something desirable. God bless my husband for taking that burden upon himself!

So, why is 9:13AM so loathsome for someone who does not even have to be somewhere at a designated time? Simply because I did not feel 100% when I finally got back to sleep, and was rudely awoken twice by the pounding bassline of someone's music. This second time was just before nine. I located the source, grimaced, went back inside and have been on the couch since. I hope to summon the same strength my husband did earlier. It is silly to be rendered useless because I refuse to snap out of my lethargy.

This morning just started with a couple bird plops...that's all. What on earth do you mean? Max Lucado has written a book entitled Everyday Deserves a Chance: Wake Up to the Gift of 24 Hours. Last week, I read the first chapter over the phone to my mother. Lucado's illustration of how bad things pop up that annoy, discourage you etc. in the course of a day, came from when a bird literally plopped on his chest, ruining his picturesque beach experience. My mom got a kick out of the way he phrased it: "[I]nto everyday a bird will plop." (p.2) Thursday, I found myself having to apply the verse he often referred to throughout this chapter to combat such attacks, "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps. 118:24) He quoted this scripture as a way to encourage us that there is a way to give everyday a chance. Find ways to rejoice in it and it will eventually become an engrained pattern.

Thursday was a seeming bombardment of birds. The early morning went as usual, with my husband leaving for work. Around 10 "o" clock, the phone rang. Ray's number appeared on the caller ID display, so I eagerly picked up and greeted him. Click. Silence. I attempted a few more "Hellos" before hanging up. Sometimes he gets stuck in poor coverage areas, so I did not think too much of it...until I attempted to call him back. Our phone was completely dead. We have Vonage, which means our phone line is routed through our internet access. (It is usually quite reliable but our router had been on the fritz.) Sure enough, browsing the web yielded nothing...my connection was lost. I attempted what Ray told me to do in these situations once...twice...thrice...Several attempts later, I resigned myself to the fact it was not likely coming back on.

Ok, so I could not communicate with anyone via the phone or internet. That was an isolating feeling, especially so early in the day. However, I decided to watch some television. Five minutes before the end of the show, at the climax, the channel cut out. It returned just in time for the credits. These were little things, but it does not take much to stress me out. Unable to solve the issue, not knowing when Ray would be home, being cut off from the world...it was all too much for me. However, I remembered the book and the verse. Soon, I was doing my chores, singing "This is the day that the Lord has made./We will rejoice and be glad in it!" I kept singing choruses and other songs I knew, while allowing the line of communication to flow between me and God. Soon, Ray walked through the door and I knew I had made it through the day! It had not ended up being as bad as it could have been! He took me out to Arby's, after we went on a hunt for a new router. I had a craving for a milkshake; knowing this, Ray asked if I would like one. My reply was "If they have them, sure." Sounds a bit pessimistic, but the last time I ordered one, their machine was broken or something. Sure enough, it was broken (or something) this time around. Miraculously, though I was disappointed, God really did help me to rejoice in my day. Even if I was not jumping up and down, excited by our circumstances, I was not depressed.

So, why did I share all this? Because I cannot let a bad start to the day ruin the rest. Sure, I am still sleepy and a tad grumpy, but that does not give me an excuse to sit here and wallow. And so, I plan to get off my bum, get some breakfast and set to the chores I have around here. There is plenty to do! I will have to let you know what I think of the rest of Lucado's book, but if I got all that from the first chapter, I am sure God will open my eyes to even more throughout the rest.

Have a good day. Rejoice in it!

Sincerely, Melissa