Day 129

Scripture:  Ps 86:11-17; Isaiah 44:6-8; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43


Scripture standout: Ps 86: "¹¹ Teach me your way, LORD, 
   that I may rely on your faithfulness; 
give me an undivided heart, 
   that I may fear your name."

His Deed/The Day: Give me an undivided brain, too! I think I'm a two-trick pony. I can handle two things at a time, max. Add more on and this pony starts to get mad cow disease. There is a busy week ahead with deadlines, board orientation meetings, telling Ashraf goodbye and getting David to the hospital Thursday for heart surgery. All the while, I'm trying to get the kids off and occupied and away from the house. Try as I might, I just can't manage to clear the decks and do what I love to do most — be alone in front of a marathon evening of Housewives of Whatever County, clutching an icy cold glass of chardonnay in one hand and a bag of healthy cheese puffs in the other. I am beginning to feel like I am velcro, and things are always going to be stuck to me — making my visions of cheese puff residue-ridden solitude a big, fat, unreality.

So the deed, already. OK. Today's deed. I'll be honest. We were invited to spend a lovely two days at the beach with RB, the best buddy in the world — at a beautiful home where the children run off and disappear and just have fun. You know what RB said? She said, don't bring anything. You've been hosting all summer, come let us host you. Just come. Ahhhhh, what an offer!!!! It took a minute, but when we arrived I slipped into my bathing suit and relax mode. A margarita on the beach helped greatly. I dug my feet in the sand. I smiled. Then I winced. I ruminated over how sick I was of serving. Isn't that terrible? I seethed how if I had to get one more Coke, please, or water please, or watched one more person just sit and wait for the next big activity, I was going to scream something not so nice. Terrible. Today's deed was to continue to ask, and continue to serve the bloody Coke.

Lord, give me an undivided heart and mind — just for one more day and a few more weeks.