Who'd Have Thought a Bed Cover Could Say So Much?
I was making my bed today and, as always, the bed cover DID NOT FIT!
In the three years I've had this bed cover, every time I make the bed IT DOES NOT FIT! OOOOOO! This morning I wanted to scream!!!
No matter how hard I pulled and tugged, no matter which way I turned it, it would not come down far enough on both sides of the bed. I've tried my level best to stretch it when it's wet. I've ignored it and hoped it would go away. I've blamed the manufacturer for saying it was king size AND IT'S NOT!
I've thought about adding eight inches of velvet around the sides and bottom so that it will fit, but it's just not possible to find velvet JUST the right color. I've thought of just using it on the queen bed in the spare room… but… the label SAID it was a KING! And I like the stupid thing too much!!! I'm kind of "stuck on it". I know, I know. I KNOW! I just need to get a new one.
What was I thinking? For heaven's sake, did I think the bed would shrink or the cover would grow? What are the chances of stretching silk? Zero percent chance!
I got this compelling urge to write this down! Sometimes we do try to do something about our issues, but too often we try to change the circumstance, or the other person, instead of ourselves. It almost never works in the long run.
This is what our lives are like. There are certain things that "stick to us":
- habits we have
- beliefs that we have taken on
- difficulties that follow us because of vows we have made
- hardships that come upon us because of something we WILL NOT change
- self-loathing because of lies we believe
- difficulties in relationships because of pig-headedness
If you ever feel like something just doesn't fit quite right in your world, know this: you are the only one who can do anything about it in your life.
In the movie Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks said, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you don't know what you're gonna get." Yes, life is filled with the mysteries of uncertainty, a mix of surprises presenting many rivers to cross, difficulties to experience and fears to be conquered. But you CAN do something about those things that YOU have control over.
There are some personal hurdles that we cannot jump over or go around. We have to eliminate them. Sometimes we have to go through them to get to the other side. We have to change some beliefs, go back and restate our personal vows, and change them to overcome the repeated difficulty in which we find ourselves. We cannot shrink away from the curve balls life throws at us; they have to be faced head on.
If a problem exists, worrying or dwelling on the "what ifs" won't get us anywhere.
Too many people throw their hands up in despair and give up, blaming others and even burning bridges by blaming and mudslinging. The alternative is determination, decisiveness and willpower to keep our focus on the results we intend to achieve by resolving our personal difficulties.
"Experience is a great teacher." Let each positive or negative event mark a significant learning process in your life. Pick up precious nuggets of knowledge from these experiences. The sole purpose of every experience gained is to make you a better person who can confidently face whatever life has to offer.
Keep working on accepting who you are. Learn to love and appreciate yourself, embrace your strengths and recognize your weaknesses.
Endeavor to seek wise counsel, because circumstances are seen from different perspectives and several insights could be provided. No one else even knew about the struggle I had over my bed cover. Nobody cares! It looks fine to everyone else – I'm the only one who knows!
Sharing your problems with people you trust is therapeutic. It will release the dam of pent-up emotions kept deep inside you, which will result in a clear head, a shoulder to lean on, happiness and an immeasurable amount of reassurance.
Make Your Move
Once you have recognized the root of the problem – like the fact that the bed cover JUST PLAIN DOESN'T FIT – formulate a plan of action which will help you find a solution. Carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Remember that for everything you "put off", you have to "put on" something. Choose well the thing you take on, for one little mistake might bring you back to square one.
Be emboldened by the fact that you have armed yourself with the determination and strength of mind to surpass the difficulties you are facing. Also bear in mind that you shouldn't lose sight of your purpose in life. If you get distracted from what you initially set out to do, you may find it difficult to get back on track.
What are you doing about the personal difficulties you are currently experiencing?
Read Titus 3:3–8 and Romans 12:1–3 in The Message.