When life throws you curveballs ... I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do?!?
Upon researching the intricacies of baseball, I've learned that a curveball curves because of HIGH PRESSURE. Now, normally, I'm a high pressure kind of gal -- high air pressure brings blue skies and scorching temperatures. Recently, however, I'm NOT someone who's enjoying high pressure. Since I climbed off the phone, my mind was made up to chill, enjoy my lazy-crazy-hazy days of summer, and put my feet up until Kelowna.
Note to Self: Life happens, regardless of our best intentions.
Here's how "life happened" ... On Thursday night, David arrived home for the long weekend, equipped with several days' plans and the hope of catching up on his rest. In an attempt to help me pass the days waiting for the phone to ring, David suggested I occupy some time after he left by driving to Prince George to visit with my baby girl, Joy. On Friday morning, I texted Joy that idea. She responded "Sure ... but ... Don't freak out! I'm in emerg." NEVER, NEVER tell a mother "Don't freak out!" because that's exactly what she's going to do!! Joy had been kicked in the face by a horse at the performance horse ranch where she works, just south of Prince George. Joy was downplaying the injury, as she's not a young woman who likes to be fussed over. But ... when she started texting me the surgery details and prognosis, there were multiple reasons to fuss!!
David did his best to distract my attention -- we attended a surprise retirement lunch for a friend, we made a quick excursion to Spences Bridge to explore some gorgeous falls we'd seen from the highway -- but, naturally, NOTHING would get my mind off Joy. Since her surgery was not "life threatening", she experienced the annoyance of getting bumped off the OR slate several times before finally being told to settle in for the night, and her surgery would be on Saturday. I explained to her that I wanted to drive up immediately, but she tried to tell me that was "unnecessary". With or without her blessing, I left in the wee hours of Sunday morning, arriving just in time to speak with the surgeon at the hospital. I won't go into all the gory details. Suffice it to say that she was a mess, with the addition of several plates to her jaws and her mouth wired shut in 5 places. Joy has to pack wire cutters in her pocket for the next 6-8 weeks, so she can snip the wires if anything starts to choke her. 48 hours after arriving in Prince George, I left Joy in the capable hands of her boyfriend's Mom, and fought the motor homes on the highways, arriving home last evening, relieved, reassured, and exhausted.
While Joy and I drove out to her farm yesterday morning, my cell phone rang ...
I HAVE A RADIATION START DATE!!!!!
Tuesday, July 9th at 1:45 p.m.
Hind sight is such a frustratingly-valuable undertaking. I'm starting to classify myself in the "slow learner" category because when I glance back at almost every situation during this journey, I can/do eventually see the lesson I was supposed to learn. Here's my list of the latest words of wisdom resulting from my batting practice:
1. Treasure every moment -- I didn't know my days with David would be cut short. I only had two, instead of four, days with him and I'm wishing I would have treasured every moment more fully.
2. Don't waste your time sitting on top of a phone -- Whatever call you are waiting for cannot be hurried up by uncomfortably perching there.
3. All our ducks will NEVER be in a row -- Accept that. Work with it. Live with it.
4. Expect the unexpected -- Life won't go as planned. Why do I expend so much energy planning then?
5. TRUST -- We are not meandering aimlessly through life. We all have a Father who watches over us, cares for us, and HE has the plan. Occasionally, He decides we all need a little batting practice so He allows some curveballs to come our way. Heads up!
When life throws you curveballs, smash it out of the park ...
by faith!
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