I was sitting on the beach a few days ago, by myself, and I really did try to just disappear into my own little world, but for some reason, voices were carrying remarkably easily, and I could hear so many different conversations. It must have been the way that light breeze was blowing. Here's what I witnessed:
Scene I:
A father arrived before the rest of his family, and he was amazing. . . setting up 7 chairs, a huge cooler, blankets, 2 umbrellas, and laying out all the toys . . shovels, buckets, etc. He made so many trips back & forth to the car, finally getting a new raft out of its package, and sitting down to blow it up. (I was thinking, wow, he really deserved to enjoy that raft, and maybe even a cold beer, that hopefully, was in the cooler.) His family joined him just as he finished. Five girls, and his wife. Some settled into their chairs, and a few of the younger ones took off for the water. He was so kind, offering food & drink to each of them, and even suggested a game of frisbee. He stayed calm when the girls started complaining about what was in the cooler, how cold the water was, and even blamed him for setting up camp too far from the bathroom. More complaining, more whining. He held out as long as he could, then finally reached his boiling point, and the voice that came out of that man's mouth, was no longer that kind, gentle voice that was so bighearted just a few minutes earlier. It was a deep, gravlly voice that sounded like it could have come from Hell. I've never been there, but I'm pretty sure the Devil himself probably talks like that.
We just lose it sometimes! He was giving so much, and getting nothing in return.
Scene II:
A couple sitting beside me arrived about the same time I did. Setting up their chairs, towels, etc., I noticed the wife hadn't had one nice thing to say. She was on a beautiful beach and the weather was perfect. She began complaining about how hard it was to walk in the sand, and she was upset because there was no cell service, and surely would miss all calls. She was impatient setting up her chair, and actually blamed her husband for not helping her get it right. She actually said, "I'm going to fall over in this chair, I just know it." Sure enough, just a couple minutes later, she fell over on her back with her feet straight up in the air. She laid there, like she couldn't get up . . . . it really was a funny site! Her husband laughed a bit, because, ok.....it was hilarious! Then I heard that same voice....you know, the one from Hell, "Give me your f****** hand!!", she yelled. My goodness, one roll to the left, and she could have easily gotten up.
I've thought about that day on the beach. It's so easy to get caught up in the momentary drama, and the little stresses of the day. Some people expect trouble, and get it, and some people do everything to avoid it, only to have things go wrong anyway. But things happen! Life's little challenges, little stresses.....they happen. And when they do, it's up to us how we respond. We do have a choice. I'll be taking a deep breath, and pausing before I speak . . . because, "that voice"....whew! It stuck with me enough to blog about it.
Don't let stress rob you of the joy you should be experiencing in life.
