Spilled Milk

I have noticed since I have been paying more attention to the space I am creating for JOY, my internal dialog and the language of JOY, that I am being pelted with things that challenge that. You've heard the saying, "Don't ask to be more patient because your patience will be tested." HELLO!!

My children are my greatest teachers. They teach me so much everyday, and sometimes that growing and learning process is not always comfortable.

My sweet, darling Malia is my greatest teacher right now. Malia is 3. Malia is curious, mischievous, and beginning to assert her independence...in a big way. I am so glad that she is on this path of finding who she is, what she likes and the things she can do "all by herself". I really am. But, this process is not always fun. Take, for instance, yesterday...

Malia tried to pour her self a glass of milk and dumped half a carton of milk out onto the floor, then used EVERY clean dish cloth that I had just folded and put away to clean it up. Then while I was cleaning the rest up, she decided to try my new earrings on. I don't exactly know how it happened, but she broke those. Then, she was unusually grumpy and feisty and decided she didn't want to stay in bed and got out at least 20 times.

Now, before, this would have just been a really bad day to me. I would have gone to bed feeling tired, angry and sorry for myself. I would have felt a lot of guilt and helplessness. But since I have been on this personal journey I was able to come to these conclusions.

#1- The reason the milk was spilt was because she had asked me 3 times to help her and all 3 times I had told her "just a minute" (you never use that line with your kids, do you?) What would you have done if you were her? You would have poured your own milk!

#2- It is know at my house that when you make a mess, you are in charge of cleaning it up. Malia knows this and that is exactly what she did. She cleaned up her mess. To her, using all the towels was the fastest way.

#3- She is as girly as they come. She was already wearing a pink princess dress, so why not put on Mom's new shinny earrings to complete the look?

#4- I would have been grumpy too if I had been punished and yelled at for trying to grow up. I would have wanted some affirmation and attention from my Mom, who I wasn't sure still liked me. Wouldn't you?

I was amazed at how different this day ended. Was it still exhausting to run around and clean up after a 3 year old? Of course, but that bad day happened BECAUSE of me, not TO me. I own that, and I learned from that. I went to bed feeling JOY for such a sweet spirit to grace my presence. How lucky am I to have such a loving Father in Heaven who trusts me enough to send me Malia.

What are the people in your life trying to help you learn about JOY? Each person in your life serves a purpose.

This weeks challenge- Pick ONE person in your life, child, spouse, co-worker, sibling, parent, neighbor, ANYONE who you seem to be at odds with. Someone who seems to be rubbing you the wrong way, pushing your buttons, or doing all the wrong things. Ask yourself what that person is trying to teach you about yourself and your life.

Here's a quick example (hope you don't mind me sharing Tara!) My older sister shared an experience with me about a girl that she use to know. This girl, we'll call her Sue, really got under Tara's skin. She just didn't mesh with Sue and had a really hard time with her. One day, one of Tara's friends casually mentioned how similar Sue and Tara were. It was eye opening for Tara. Because she is a very wise woman, she was able to step back and see that this girl was placed in her path to teach her something. She realized that they were similar and she was able to see some of the ways she was portraying herself to others and do some tweaking.

Are you being a victim? Are you letting people or experiences create your emotions? Or are you being a creator of your own life, and owning the role you play?

I have such a strong desire to learn the things I am suppose to learn here, in this earthly experience. I am so glad to have people in my life who teach me, help me grow and make me want to be better.