“Ask yourself what is really important and then have the wisdom and courage to build your life around your answer.” -Unknown
There were a million and one things on my to-do list needing to get done, but as I sat by my father-in-law’s side all day in the medical clinic I knew I was exactly where I needed to be, doing the most important thing I could possibly be doing with my day today, and I know that same thing will apply tomorrow, and the next day, and so on…
Taking care of someone isn’t easy…I don’t think its supposed to be. I think its meant to be a struggle so it can teach us to have more patience, make us more selfless, and humble us in a very real and very raw way. It also reminds us of our own mortality which increases our gratitude for our own health and strength.
It’s also scary…Will I be adequate enough to handle taking care of this person that I love so dearly? Will I have the strength to take care of them, and still take care of everyone else in my life? And will I even have anything left for myself? And what about all the things on my to-do list that need to be done? I was already so behind before this came up…what am I to do now?
I’ll tell you what I’m going to do…I’m going to pray…A LOT…and I’m going to ask God to help me figure this all out. Someway…somehow… Then I’m going to go forward with faith that He will help me handle everything that I need to without letting me fall to pieces. How God will do that? I have no idea. That’s why it’s gonna take some faith.
The one thing I know without question is what’s really important in life, so at least I know WHAT I need to do. Now I just gotta figure out the HOW to do it. Step one is I’ve got to muster up courage to build my life around what matters most, then I’ve got to trust that whatever else I’m going to have to let go of in order to do that will be okay even if it doesn’t seem like it is. Does that terrify me a little…absolutely…it actually terrifies me a lot…but I know its the right thing to do.
Come what may, the greatest feeling of inner peace comes when we do our best to do what’s right.
~Amy Rees Anderson (author of the book “What Awesome Looks Like: How To Excel in Business & Life” )
