Just When You Think........

Happy Sunday!!!

So...this morning church was set up in the part of the building that is usually reserved for bingo, and other organized events. Today, we were having a special musical guest that was going to come on after us, the choir. It was set up quite lovely. There were a ton of tables with flowers and pastries on them, chairs full with members. It was a packed house. As I looked out and around the congregation, I was almost overwhelmed at the sight of all of these people sitting with their families looking very much like a scene from 'Our Town'. So much so, that it made me nostalgic for my own family, and wishing I could do more to have this type of wholesomeness in my life. Made me wonder where I had gone wrong, and what steps could I take to correct this problem so that I could be one of these lovely proper people that I was looking at.

And then, just as I was really getting down on myself because I had begun to pick apart what I was wearing and why I didn't look as polished as some of these other mothers in attendance, my choir neighbor leaned over and proceeded to inform me about all of the different scandals that were in play amongst these people. Who was gay, who was sleeping with whomever's spouse, who's kid was on drugs, so on and so forth.

Well, in about 5 minutes she had me going from downtrodden to hysterically laughing. then I realized, I wasn't laughing at the stories she was telling me, I was laughing at ME.

I was laughing that I had let a scene, a style of clothing, a perceived notion tear away at my being. Based on what evidence? I was clean, dressed neatly, my husband was there with me- he's my family isn't he?

This is where Anxiety will always get the better of you, if you let it. The next time you are feeling bad about yourself, and wonder why you are not this or that, take a moment to look at your evidence. What clear cut picture do you have before you that makes your fear,or poor opinion of yourself valid? And even after you examine it and you find that there is some truth in it, ask yourself if it really changes the basically good person that you are.

I promise you in time, after a little practice, you will exude what it was I thought I saw in some of these people today...and it will be genuine.