Yesterday, as I was reading a blog about a young mother who felt like she should quit blogging because she felt so inadequate. There were blogs that she read that made her feel like a failure as a wife and mother. It reminded me of a poem that someone sent me in an e-mail.
The Girl in a Whirl by 'Dr. Sue'
"Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do,
If you only knew how.
I study the scriptures three hours each day;
I bake,
I upholster,
I scrub,
and I pray.
I always keep the commandments (all ten!) completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms!
I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice!
I cut all their hair!
I donate to charities, give my time and my money;
My goal in life is to make someone's day sunny!!
I play the piano!
I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle!
My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all!
I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed!
My toenails are polished!
Our family game nights are always delightful;
The games that we play are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do !
I rise early each morning, refreshed and awake;
So I can make breakfast with fresh eggs and steak!
I read to my children!
I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I exercise daily to keep my weight down;
I still fit nicely into my wedding gown!
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each "lost lamb" on my Sunday School roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all.
I write in my journal!
I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write "thank you's" to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles Scouts when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's!
And their bedrooms are clean!
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I help at a soup kitchen at least twice a week;
I change the car's tires!
I fix the sink's leak!
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure that our pantry has a one year supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard;
'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try!
Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work hard, you can do them all, too!
It's easy!" she said
And then she dropped dead!!
Instead of focusing on what others do, or have, we just need to focus on the journey. Don’t focus on how you rank in comparison to others — life is not a competition . . . it’s a journey! We are all on a journey, to find something, to become something, to learn, to create. That journey has nothing to do with how well other people are doing, or what they have, or are able to accomplish in a day or a week. It has everything to do with what our goals are, and where we want to go in this life.
If you have shelter over your head, food on the table, clothes on your back, and people who love you, you are blessed. You have enough. Anything you have over and above that — and let’s admit it, more than likely, everyone of us reading this blog have more than enough - will be enough! Be good with that, and you’ll find contentment and peace.
Enjoy the journey!
Hugs,
