So Much Fixin' Goin' on Around Here!
"There are 2 ways of meeting difficulties: You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself to meet them." Phyllis Bottome
In the lone star state of Texas, we have a word that we use often: "fixin'." One can use this word in a wide variety of ways. "I'm fixin' to make dinner" implies you'll be making dinner soon. "We're fixin' up the place before summer" indicates one is making repairs or refreshing his/her home before the summer season. One might say it's been an entertaining season of "fixin" for Momma Vaughan.
At our lakehouse, we have repaired wood, trimmed trees, and refreshed the air conditioning system. On a recent trip to this place, I smiled while locking the door. Everything seemed to be in perfect working order. I decided to take a golf cart ride, all by myself, before I left. I hopped on, turned the key and nothing happened. The golf cart will need to be fixed the next time we're there. When I arrived back home, the "bug man" came to fix our pantry moth problem. Next, the irrigation specialist came to fix our sprinkler system. 2 hours after the bug man left, an alarm repairman came. The alarm specialist opened the first window in my kitchen and started swatting away no less than 50 ants! I'll need to revisit the bug man regarding the ant problem. He'll be so thankful to hear from Momma Vaughan again!
Finally, the day after our sprinkler system repairs, our pool equipment malfunctioned. All our pool equipment is in the garage. The force of water rushing through the pool closet blew sheetrock off the back wall of that small space. Yep... another leak needed fixin'! In the middle of a conversation with my precious pool lady, she said, "Hold your head up. Things could be worse!" Her statement brought an immediate halt to my "pity party for one." There have been so many times in my life when I have failed to hold my head up and refused to look up. On a day when we face one problem after another, maintaining perspective becomes so incredibly difficult. Indeed, floating sheetrock in the garage almost sent Momma Vaughan over the edge. As this past week of fixin' things has moved forward, I have also paused to remind myself that bugs, leaks and floods are truly "first world problems." Oh how much time I have lost fretting about the small stuff in life. I am convinced my fretting has, no doubt, cause me to lose a brain cell or two. That needs to stop. I'm just sayin'.
Today, where are you choosing to gaze? Are you fixin' to have a mental melt down on aisle 5 of the grocery store as you've just received a text message about another problem that needs fixin'? We have all been there. Look around and you are likely to find someone you know 2 aisles over facing a similar situation. Let's just meet on the ice cream aisle. I'll bring the spoons. Ice cream solves every problem! Are you fixin' to fall apart behind the wheel of your car because the road ahead of you will never be fixed? No worries...I'm two cars and 20 barrels behind you feeling the same way. Today, join me in a "pause." Regain perspective. Look up, and fix your eyes on Jesus. Celebrate your perfect savior. Amen.
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