Ok...am new to this blogging thing, but thought I'd give it a try since there are so many thoughts rambling through my mind. I bought a new prelit Christmas tree. It sat in the box in the middle of the living room for about 5 days. My husband is a farmer...our crops are out, but he is helping someone else get thier's out. Well, I knew that the only way the tree was going to go up was if I did it myself. I walked around that box several times a day thinking...I wish I could do this myself...but, also thinking that I couldn't. Finally, I said to myself you're not gonna know unless you try...so try I did. Getting the scissors to cut through the tape on the box, I tackled the project. That went well. Getting the 3 sections of the tree out...athough harder with only one hand, went well. Now to tackle the bubble wrap , wrapped tightly around each section. I tried to pull the tape off, but it wasn't co-operating, so I reached for the scissors. I did say it was wrapped tightly? Well the damn tree being round...kept wanting to move on me, so I had to straddle it..to hold it and cut through the bubble wrap. As I was cutting through the bubble wrap...I was cutting through the tree needles and trying very hard to avoid cutting the lights. After what seemed like a very long time, I finally managed to get all three unwrapped. Now to put the three sections together. I could lift them with one hand, but trying to get them into the hole to connect them was hard... not to mention the tree stand. After about 2 hours I managed to get it up. Then it took some time to get the sections turned around to hide the parts where I had cut the needles. Plugged it in, lights work...all is merry and bright! Now someone else can decorate it!
It's so amazing how the things I used to do so easily, now seem almost impossible. We take so much for granted. Notice I said 'almost' impossible? NOTHING is impossible. I wouldn't have the tree up...if I hadn't tried. I wouldn't be able to move my fingers, if I hadn't tried...or be able to finally button my pants without having to ask another woman in a public restroom for help...or open the door and yell for my hubby. Each time I have accomplished the smallest feat, I raise my hands up to the heavens and praise God for His help. But mostly, I thank Him for his great sacrifice.. for His love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. I can do nothing, without Him who sustains me. That doesn't mean I don't get angry, or question Him, or bargain with Him..but I will never doubt Him. I prayed every night for Him to give me patience with my grandchildren. I babysat them everyday for anywhere from 9 to 12 hours, and at 5, 3, 2 and an infant..they would try the patience of a saint! God answered my prayers..and sent me a stroke. Talk about learning patience! I have never said'Why me'? My own answer to that is...why not me? I am no different or better than anyone else. I sometimes try to analyze it....was it to teach me patience...to slow me down..to tell me to quit being such a perfectionist, to let me know that I was not the one in control? Or was it to tell my family to quit taking me for granted and to not rely on me for everything? Whatever the reason...it is, what it is. In the mean time, I will continue to celebrate the small things.