God Speaks to me

And all of his people through many different ways.  Often for me it is through His word, other people, and even my inner thoughts (hello, Holy Spirit).  Today he used his people and my tailgate.  Yes, you read that right, my tailgate.

This morning I left Far, Far Away in a harried mess at 7:45.  In a harried mess to get to an appointment by 8:40.  To get to my appointment by 8:40, and then wait an hour to be called; then wait another thirty minutes in the room.  All for the doctor to spend a total of 2.5 minutes in the room.

I didn't get to have my morning time with my sweet girl.  I didn't get to eat breakfast with my McBeardy like we do every morning.  As I waited and realized all this I started to twitch with impatience.  As my neck was twitching to the left, I noticed a sweet little girl across the room that looked incredibly like my blue eyed darling that was probably singing sweet praises to Jesus at school while I was there.  Incredibly like her, yet so different.  Bald and deep, saddened eyes.  Then my neck twitched to the right as I heard them call yet another name that sounded nothing like ours.  I heard a shriek from that direction as well.  This horrific noise came from (what I am guessing) a 15 year old boy in a wheel chair that was playing with and thoroughly enjoying a toy equivalent to something that Patton will enjoy entertainment from in just a few short months.  You see, I was in the waiting room if the orthopedic center at Driscoll Children's Hospital.  Waiting for what I was praying  to be the last time I had to ever sit in that colorful office ever again.  And that's where I broke down.  Blinking back tears while in my heart and mind I hit my knees and bawled to The Lord with humbleness.  Why am I, ye who is so unworthy, chosen to be so blessed to raise these beautiful,  "normal", bundles of joy?  Ye who makes such a mess of this life on an hourly basis?  Thank you, thank you, thank you most gracious Father.  Gracious.  Your people's actions spoke loudly to me there.  I heard you; be thankful and enjoy them more.

The wonderful news is (thank you gracious Father) that Patton doesn't have to wear the brace any more.  There is still some slight slack on the left hip, but not enough to stay in the brace.  We are all elated.  Even Patton.  He let out a giggle and grin while doc was spreading the good cheer.

Since I had to wait a bazillion minutes there I was running behind for my next appointment.  So what did I do?  Left that place in a harried mess, all the while just thinking about my next cup of (decaf) joe.

Since the first place set me back, everything was off "schedule" for me and for what I had planned out as Patton's eating spots and times.  When you nurse and live where we do, you "have" to map all this out ahead of time.  Have to.  Half way through my grocery excursion Patton chimes in to remind me it's been over 3 hours since he had groceries.  So I finish shopping in, you guessed it, a harried mess, did a few transactions at the banking center, rushed to the car, loaded the groceries in the back of the suburban with the button operated tailgate that works without unlocking the rest of the car, shut said tailgate with a button, twirled basket around to put Patton in and couldn't open the door.  2 second thought, " hmmm, didn't unlock the door silly!  Oh gosh my keys!!"  Get back to the tailgate just in time to see it closing on my ever lovin' only set of keys.  At 1:05, almost 4 hours after little man had eaten and only 55 minutes till I needed to pick up Kirby 30 minutes away.

Panic. Set. In.  Only set of keys.  Patton needs to eat.  Call CR.  He's gonna be so mad.  Patton needs to eat.  Panic.  Pray.  Ahhh, prayer.  Instantly feel better and reason sets in.  Front passenger door lock has been giving us issues.  It was unlocked!  Of course horns start honking like I'm in downtown Houston traffic at 5 p.m. on Friday evening.  Alarms are so annoying.  Put Patton in drivers seat so I can crawl over all the seats to the way back, dig under the groceries and .... Can't even see the ever lovin only set ofkeys.  They were perfectly, imperfectly stuck directly under the gate and I couldn't see them from either side.  Call CR.  for once, sorry to say, he was no help.  He was going to try Pop A Lock.  In the meantime I was going to problem solve.  Then I see it.  Sitting there in all it's glory.  The wooden spoon that I use to discipline Kirby.  Aha ... Run to the back with spoon in hand, alarm still going off and people looking at me like I'm crazy (you giggled I'm sure .. "Like" you're crazy?) try to pry up the tailgate.  See keys ... Can't get them.  Shucks.  Good thought!  Prayer again.  Shut up alarm.  Tweezers!  I have tweezers!  Oh goodness, if CR took them in after he saw them the other day so help me ... Boom, they were there.   Run to back, spoon and tweezers in hand, pry tailgate up, grab keys with tweezers .... Darn too slick.  Won't grasp.  Prayer.  Worked keys around to different direction, used tweezers to push unlock on key fob, press tailgate button on outside of car ... And keys.  Reachable.  Workable.

So there it was, my lesson from my tailgate.  Slow down long enough in life to grab your keys. Your  keys that get you from point a to point b.  Your keys that, without, you will end up panicked with nervous onlookers praying for you deeply.  And possibly calling the cops.

" Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  Ephesians 5:15-17