Blessedly Frustrated

I have to admit that lately I have felt FRUSTRATED! I have made no less than nine calls to service departments for repairs around the house in the last month. Not to mention that my van’s paint job is peeling, the CD player broke, and the breaks are starting to squeal. Then there is the cleanliness of the house. Toys, clothes, dirty dishes all screaming, “put me away,” or “clean me then put me away.” It is overwhelming, and when things don’t work or break, my frustration only mounts. My heart feels tight, my heart rate increases, my shoulders and neck tense up. I am irritable, short-tempered and generally no fun. Really? Is the frustration over things worth it? Sure I expect the things I purchase to work, but allowing myself to get so upset because they don’t is ridiculous. It is just like watching my children throw themselves on the floor crying because I told them they can’t have a snack. Is it worth it? NO. However, they are children. I am an adult and I have better coping mechanisms, at least I should.

I let my life get hung up on what I expect and what I want, and I miss out. My joy becomes wrapped up in capricious electronics, appliances, vehicles, children attitudes, or my spouse’s choices. I can choose to live in frustration or I can learn the lesson of Proverbs 14:4. It says, “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.” So where there is no house there are no broken windows or messed up appliances. When you do not have a car, there is no paint to peel. There is no need for toys if there are no children. There would be no mess, no frustration, but there would also be no blessing, no joy, no abundant harvest.

So here is the challenge to all of us. When we start to get frustrated, let’s take that as a clue to stop and thank God for something. Instead of saying, “UGH, the air conditioning isn’t working again.” Then allowing the weeping and gnashing of teeth begin. We will stop and thank God for a house and the fact that we live in a country that air conditioning is an option. When the dirty laundry and dishes are about to drive us batty. We won’t allow our blood pressure to sky-rocket, no we take a deep breath and thank God for clothes and dishes to wash. This way we can be blessedly frustrated.

What is something you are blessedly frustrated over? Leave a comment and let me know.

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