Is It Eternal?

In college, I remember my friend Mandy emphatically declaring "This is not eternal!" over anything temporary that we were stressing over--tests, boyfriends, girl drama...

I'm sorry that I've been using my blog as a whining outlet, but honestly, ya'll, I feel like I'm experiencing Chinese water torture via my laptop. It came back from the shop semi-fixed today. Enough said. I won't subject you to any more whining.

God is speaking to me over and over and over about my reactions to things, so I've really been trying to focus on Him and remind myself of His truths. I still had that tight feeling in my chest, though, as I headed to Walmart to get some lunch and dinner fixins' for the family.

As I went through the isle, I was going over my many lists in my head. Send that email. Pick up cheese. Return that call. Don't forget a treat like some cookie dough. Start a load of laundry.

I stayed in that haze of list review right up until I looked at the sweet little family in front of me in the checkout line. There was a beautiful, young mom with two boys loaded on the cart. One had brown hair, and I smiled as I thought of my two big boys. But when he leaned over to reveal his brother, I realized that the second beautiful boy had no hair. Bald and beautiful at the tender age of 7 or 8.

Tears instantly filled my eyes, and I looked away to hide them from the boys. Perspective. That's what I got in that moment. My problems are truly light and temporary, but that little family is dealing with a crisis that could have eternal implications.

I felt that God had given me a gentle reminder that although He cares for me--problems and all--that my little drip, drips that have been driving me crazy are not eternal.