Hello, everyday frustrations
Have you had a hard day recently? What was your natural reaction? For instance, are you the type to hunker down and try to fix it yourself? How do you talk yourself through the struggle? Do you give yourself time to collect your thoughts and decide your path forward? Or does anxiety, frustration, or hurt feelings cloud your mind and steal your hope and courage to make wise decisions? Today we are talking about walking out our faith in everyday frustrations and how to choose to trust God with the outcome.
My typical reaction to everyday frustrations
When I’m feeling stressed, I can let feelings get the best of me. It’s easy to react and think the worst and beat myself up. I’m my biggest critic. For example, a common struggle happens when I’m running late, Annabelle has a dirty diaper, and she is being an uncooperative grump-a-saurus. Some days I choose grace for myself and give it to her as well. “I’m OK,” I exhale. Other days I wear anxiety and frustration like an outfit for the day. But then we’re both riding the struggle bus.
Would it be better if I had left more wiggle room in the morning? Absolutely. And I’m sure there are other things I could do to anticipate this particular setback, but in life, we can never guarantee a smooth ride. We will have bumps, detours, and difficulties. Some may be our fault, and others out of our control. And life is full of everyday frustrations, right, friend? Any mama friends out there breathing a collective sigh?
Jesus tells us,
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
The Lord taught me a few lessons recently with problem-solving and how to choose my attitude even when things are literally in a ditch.
An opportunity for growth
One beautiful California day, I went for a hike. The sun warmed my skin and the oaks swayed in the breeze.
I was preparing for a presentation and glued to my phone as I approached my favorite trailhead.
But then I lost an AirPod. Before I could say “Sugar-Honey-Iced-Tea” it tumbled out of my ear onto the pavement and down into the abyss of a drainage ditch.
The Marco Polo message to a client continued to roll and captured the peace of songbirds and blue skies juxtaposed with my plight.
My pity party lasted for a few long moments, “Andres is going to kill me! I know it was a luxury and I can’t justify buying another one. We don’t have money in the budget. What if I can get it? How can I get it? I need to get it. Yes, I can get it! I WILL GET IT!” “God, you are going to help me get this!” I told him.
My determination rose as I challenged my own limiting beliefs.
Straightening myself, I noticed neighbors chopping firewood. Didn’t they know this was an emergency?
“Maybe I could ask them for a string?” I reasoned I could lure my AirPod case down and with the magnetic attraction, my beloved would just snap back into the safety of its home. “No, I can’t do that! What if I lose the case too?!”
“OK, I’ll go back home to get a cord and some strong magnets. Yes, magnets will work.” I backtracked the half-mile to my house and did my research by rewatching my Polo and reliving the fate of my AirPod. My hair had looped around the extension, so as I went to readjust my mane in the breeze – Adios – out it tumbled along with some choice words. I promptly deleted the Polo and resolved to save it from the depths. Google told me how much a replacement AirPod was eighty-nine dollars plus shipping. “Ok, not too bad.” I had a plan B as an appeal to Andres.
The trial runs
Back at home, I helped myself to Annabelle’s ring magnets she got as a Christmas gift. Not taking any chances, I used the full set and assembled them on two different cords with packing tape and an extra fridge magnet for good measure. Dangling the assembly over the couch, I heard a satisfying click- my prototypes successfully retrieved my lone AirPod – if it was roughly two inches or less from the target!
I threw the contraptions in my backpack, along with extra tape and cord. Taking my car to the scene seemed logical to save time.
Squaring my shoulders, I approached my nemesis; it was go-time. The magnet contraptions swiftly dropped into the concrete vault which was situated under a 10’ length of sidewalk. My hand reached into the unknown and explored the extent of the covered trench with my magnets. Crinkles of leaves told me there was a bottom for this pit. Hallelujah! It seemed to be three or four feet deep, until then it just plummeted some six or eight feet below. “Oh, please, please please let it not be down there.”
No satisfying clicks were heard. I kept dragging, swinging, moving my two AirPod catchers around the shallow parts. I couldn’t see much into the darkness since the opening to the road was only 10 inches high.
Eyes on the target
Then a crazy idea popped in my head: use my phone’s video to get eyes on the target.
With a firm grip, in went my phone. Within 15 seconds, voila! It was several feet back from the big drop-off. Surprisingly, no other weird or scary thing was seen. A thin layer of sand and leaves had made a bed for my AirPod. I sent the video to two friends who were praying for me as soon as the trouble unfolded. Megan exclaimed, “I can feel the victory!” With the footage, a new vigor filled my body. Yes, I would capture my beloved. I swung my magnet device with such good accuracy that – click – I hit the AirPod and it bounced a couple of feet closer to plunge.
Deep breaths, Sarah, deep breaths. Let’s slow it down.
I tried and tried again, but no clicks.
Was this the end? No. I couldn’t walk away knowing it was only just 4’ from me! I tried using my phone with a live feed as I positioned my magnets. Close, but still no cigar. The phone almost joined the cozy AirPod in the pursuit. I gathered myself and checked my texts. My friend David encouraged, “Why don’t you just open the manhole and get it?” His childhood was filled with everyday frustrations when baseballs rolled into drainage outlets and one lucky kick had to retrieve it.
“Say whaaat?!”
Into the abyss
I put two fingers into the steel lid and yanked. The rough edge cut into my skin and up came the lid.
But would I really go down? I had inspected and been acquainted with similar spaces as a structural engineer, but in those circumstances, I had a spotter, safety vest, steel toe boots, and a hardhat. Here, I would be trespassing, unprotected, and full of adrenaline for the rescue.
I gave the magnets one more try before I put a toe past the threshold.
Suddenly, the neighbors appeared again. I pleaded, sitting on the road with my arm in the ditch. “I lost my AirPod.” Their collective sigh comforted me. “John!” the motherly woman yelled. A young boy with square-toed cowboy boots and a camouflage mask approached. “Hi! Oh my gosh, thank you so much!” as I scrambled to put on my own mask. I motioned to the location of my AirPod and casually said, “I think the manhole is the fastest way to get it,” batting my eyelashes subconsciously. Shrugging, he bent down toward the manhole. A San Luis Obispo county truck approached, I smiled, and assumed they’d stop. Nope. The blonde woman nodded and kept rolling.
“Only go in if you feel comfortable. You don’t have to, but I’d be so grateful if you did,” I tried to give the young man options. His dark brown tousled hair disappeared into the concrete vault. Within moments, a hand emerged holding the precious, white treasure through the small gap between the road and sidewalk edge. The neighborhood boy climbed out and closed the heavy lid with a clang. just as the county truck drove past one more time. Returning to his woodpile, the boy went. I secured my hair and rejoiced as my beloved pair were reunited in their case.
Finally, after an hour delay, I arrived at the trailhead and with gratitude, floated up the gravel path on a breeze with laughter.
How you can choose faith in everyday frustrations:
- Slow down, way down, and take a few breaths.
- Pray for wisdom and pray bold prayers and ask a couple of trusted friends to pray (without turning into gossip or complaining).
- Make a plan and be determined.
- Try plan. Try plan again. And again. Don’t give up hope.
- Deep breaths and pray as often as necessary.
- Notice who and what is around. Ask for help!
- Trust the outcome to the Lord.
- Reflect on what you learned through that everyday frustration to help you next time.