From Pain to Gain

The problem started when my sister dropped off her adorable 3 1/2 month old lab/pitbull puppy. We were anxious to spend time with Rosie...then pleasure quicky turned to pain. Poop and pee in the house became the instant norm. The pup hadn't figured out how to go potty outside of her own backyard. Chasing our cat and playing/brawling with our little Shih Tzu came next. Barking, chasing, running, jumping, biting...we were a little overwhelmed and ready to quit.

How quickly my simple life can turn into a complicated stressful experience. Yours too? Someone gets sick, is angry, gets hurt, or loses a job, and I am feeling the stress and worry. But over time I have seen the worst turn into the best. I have seen what orginally caused me stress and anguish bring me future joy. The burden typically comes first and then the blessing. The pain forces me to try something new or change my direction. Later, that new course, though painful to get on, becomes my accomplishment.

So we had to change our routines with Rosie. We eliminated throw rugs - instant potty depositories - and minimized time with the other animals. We brought out the crate to help Rosie calm down and rest, and we set up a place for her to run outside. We started taking more frequent walks with both dogs and used treats to reward responsible outdoor potty practices. And the stress minimized. And my daughter and I feel like we accomplished something. But more than that, I know that a blessing may come, when I don't expect it. Sometimes I try to think creatively about it... Maybe what I learned or remembered to do with Rosie will help me in the near future. Or maybe helping my sister will be more of a help to her than I imagined ... and she'll thank me with homemade chocolate chip cookies. Hint. Hint.

In the Bible, the beatitudes say:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Even Jesus spoke of the suffering coming first...then the blessing.
Hope you will creatively anticipate the joy that will come out of your current pain. :)

The Power of our Words

When I was pregnant, I didn’t know if I was having a girl or a boy. I carried my baby way way out front, and repeatedly people told me I must be having a boy. The day the baby was born, Rick and I were truly surprised to hear “It’s a girl.” Those around us – friends and strangers, by way of repeated guessing - had truly convinced us we were having a boy. That situation showed me how vulnerable we are to the power of persuasion.

We possess a great deal of power as humans to convince people of reality. We have the power to raise people’s hopes and expectations beyond where they should be. And when their hopes and expectations are not met, the person who has accepted “our truth” falls farther emotionally than they would have if we had said nothing.

How responsible are we for what we say? Should we be held responsible? When does it crossover into lying and manipulation? I hold myself responsible to be true and real. When I become part of a conversation and say things I shouldn’t, I try to approach the person later and correct my error. But often it is so easy to just leave it. Let the other person deal with it.

Should we be holding other’s accountable? Telling them when their words of authority lead me in the wrong direction – a direction that they had a hand in; a situation that they had some control over. I can tell my spouse, my family members, & my friends if they lead me down the wrong path. Can I tell my co-workers and my boss?

Do you? When your co-worker or boss manipulates you or lies to you, do you talk about it with them? In some ways, shouldn’t we be doing that in love? It's on my mind today.