Sometimes All You Can Do Is Laugh

So, like most of you, my life is pretty stressful. I am a wife. I am a mother of two young children. I am a first year developmental-behavioral pediatrics fellow. I am a part-time Sunday school teacher in the special needs youth class. Oh yeah, and I'm a pretty rockin' blogger. 
Well, you know that expression, "When it rains, it pours" ? That's my life right now. As I've mentioned before, I had reconstructive knee surgery almost two weeks ago. The injury was much worse than the MRI showed, and the surgery was more extensive than originally planned. Because of that, my recovery is going more slowly than I'd hoped. I'm hurting all the time and getting very frustrated. I had a breakdown last night, which was lovely by the way. I'm just so stinking tired of not being able to do the things I normally do. I'm tired of having to have things done for me. I'm tired of hurting. I'm tired of it all. 
And, as I've mentioned a million times, I have a child with special needs. He is the most amazing little boy and the light of my life. He is also the cause of much stress and frustration. He can't help most of it, and I have to remind myself of that everyday. I know he is on this earth for a reason, and I hope I'm around to see what that is. Well, he did one of those frustrating things the other night. While we were sitting in the den, all hanging out, he calmly walked up to the TV and wacked it with his sippy cup. I'm sure you can guess what came next. The screen cracked and went black. We are now the proud owners of a 42 inch flat panel wall-mounted radio. Did you know that make flat panel TV screen protectors? Me either. Sure wish I did before this happened. Needless to say, we have one on it's way to put over our new TV. 
There are a thousand other things that I could write about that cause stress in my life, but it would be like beating a dead horse. If any of you have money troubles, job problems, health problems, sick kids, marital difficulties, depression, anger, or whatever, then you know what I'm talking about. The biggest issue with all of these things, in my opinion, is how we choose to react to them. We can do like I did the other night, and have a breakdown and cry....or we can choose to laugh. If you're life is as stressful as mine and you choose to breakdown and cry every time something bad or stressful happens, you'll spend your entire life in tears. That's why I always say, sometimes all you can do is laugh. Turning to those you love in times like this can be a lifesaver. Turning to the one who loves you more than anyone or anything else will save your life. The Lord knows what you're going through. He knows the stress, the pain, the anger, the guilt, the whatever it is. So, when you're in the middle of it, choose to laugh. 
"As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands."  - Psalm 119:143

1 comments:

Unknown said...

Barbara, I am enjoying reading all of your blogs. I found you tonight. What a wonderful mom you are and what a wonderful family you have been blessed with. Your grandmother was special and so is your mother. You take after some of the best of the best.