Comic Relief

I wanted to write a few thoughts down on the lighter side and maybe try to get  you to laugh.  I feel like I have been so serious about myself these last few rounds of chemo.  Not allowing myself to be fully here. For those of you who read Ann Voskamp you may be familiar with the term: live fully here, now.  So I was pondering some funny things that have happened to me.  I am sure most of you will be able to relate to my crazy and often hilarious life.  It really is funny when you step back and look.  Perspective brings into focus what is truly important.  Besides one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy.

You know that life dishes out some rather hair raising situations, here are a few of mine:

1. I was talking on the phone with a lady from the bank because once again I think somehow it's a mistake that my bank account is overdrawn.  I know this lady and she thinks my son is so quiet and obedient.  Yet while talking to her my son is, yelling and kicking the dog(s) and running around the house half dressed.

2. I've discovered evidence (who knows how long it has been sitting in a pile!) that one of my dogs is sick.  Immediately I put the dog outside. Only to turn around and find another pile of loveliness.  This has happened to me several times.  I have four dogs! 

3.  I awoke in the middle of the night and rolled over only to find my son in the middle of the bed and I wondered how did that happen? Didn't hear a thing...I used to hear everything he did as a baby in the middle of the night, even his breathing!

4. I recently discovered alphabet magnetic letters in the toilet.  I know why on earth were they in the toilet?  Well apparently my son was using the towel rack bar (it is magnetic, who knew?) to spell words in the bathroom.  Some "accidentally" fell off the towel bar into the toilet.  I then (being a vet's wife) used at large artificial insemination glove and scooped the letters to safety before they became another problem.  (see photo!)

Yes I actually fished out the letters!

5.  One of my favorite cards I received right after I shaved off my hair was from my sister.  I posted it in my office.  It has a picture of a pirate on the front and states: If people ask why you're wearing a scarf on your head and you say it's because you're a pirate...they'll have no follow-up question.  I actually told some kids this and I think they really believed me. (I even pretended to talk like a pirate...eye ma tee!)

Okay so maybe they aren't that funny.  At any rate you have to be willing to laugh at yourself and the silly things that do happen.  I find that I am taking things that happen to me with more grace.  The other night my sweet husband washed and cleaned up the dishes for me.  I failed to mention that the saucepan on the stove was part of our dinner.  He threw it away.  The old Anna would have seriously lost it and most likely would have stormed off into solitude for the night pouting like a child.  I was frustrated yes, but I just swallowed hard and made a second batch of the sauce.  I laughed silently to myself.  I am learning that some things just aren't worth getting upset over.  Dogs seem to test my patience the most along with an un-compliant child. It's in these moments when I have the opportunity to exercise self-control.  I have a chart on my fridge that lists the attributes of love found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  It also lists the opposite to each attribute in an  attitude.  This is especially helpful for myself as well as those teachable moments as a Mom. 

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  

Love never fails. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

It is the eve before my last round of chemo, number 12.  It's hard to believe the road is actually coming to an end.  So grateful for the journey.  Many tears and sleepless nights.  Sweet times of solitude and prayer.  Priceless.  I know there are battles along this journey that I will still have to fight.  Cancer is one of those nasty things that likes to resurface.  I believe with all my heart that the cancer is gone.  I can't say it won't ever come back.  I don't want to go there.  That my friends will be the battle for me.  Controlling my fears.  Most fears never come true anyway, so why waste precious time and energy on them.  The Father has it all planned out.  I am not to worry.  I just keep casting my cares on Him and receive in return peace that passes all understanding.  I stand and guard my heart, I press on toward that prize, I rest in the Shelter of the Almighty, I sing a new song and the dance continues.  He leads and I follow.  Laughter is my friend, wisdom like a sister comes as I age.  The joy of the Lord is my strength.  Stay with me for the next chapter of this glorious journey. I promise it will be good.