Reviewing the day

Yesterday was a day of many little things. I started off the morning commenting to my husband that I had a 'free' day, which meant I had no fixed appointments, although I also added that it would probably mean a day to attend to home chores. I started off well with prayer (remembering to ask the Lord for greater awareness of his being with me through the day) and then time on my computer. Still early, and I began to look ahead to 'what next?' So many things needing attention but first priority was my dog's grooming, which was long overdue. Our regular groomer had closed and I had to look for a new one. Anyway, as I called the new shop I had a problem trying to communicate that I wanted an appointment and not just walk - in. I was told that 2 dogs were going in at 1 pm and I could try 3.30 pm....but if one of the dogs did not turn up they would call me and I could go at 1 pm. Sounds simple enough but not so for me. I discovered that I began to feel restless. What was I going to do while waiting? I had expected to get the grooming out of the way in the morning before I attended to other things. Should I get on with the other chores first? What if they called at 1 pm and I have to rush out? In the end, I settled on doing some of the other chores first but even as I walked out to pay some bills, I could sense a kind of inner disquiet. So much for trying to move through the day 'with the Lord'. In the end, I did get a call at 1.30 pm and I did rush out leaving behind some unfinished housework. The rest of the day was filled with 'little things' at home and out and at the end of it all, I counted that I had driven past the guardhouse more than 10 times yesterday.

The frog in the photo caught my attention recently, at a retreat. From morning I had seen it sitting on the leaf. Through the day I went back now and again to check and it remained sitting on the leaf. It was only after sunset that it moved off....perhaps to join in the chorus of frogs that one hears at night. The day's cycle was its 'work', what God created it to do and this little frog simply did what it was meant to do. The tiny frog caught my attention because in contrast, I am easily caught up in doing things I may not really have to do right then and there......and then I get restless when the schedule does not work out as I plan.

In my review of the day, the Lord brought my attention to those moments when I lost the sense of peace and patience that he was inviting me to as I moved through my 'unstructured' time yesterday. I allowed my strong 'J' personality to cause me inner disquiet when things did not go according to my timing. But the Lord was there all the while holding out the fruits of peace and patience - I was just too preoccupied during those moments to notice. I am grateful though, that I spent time looking back on the day, and that even though the 'God-moments' passed by unnoticed earlier, I have taken another small step towards learning about myself and about how God lovingly tries to get my attention through even the most ordinary day.