Just as I was headed out the door this morning to have some routine lab work done, my husband said to me, “Rosie, you look sad. What’s wrong?”
Have you ever found yourself in the situation of trying to explain something that you can’t quite figure out yourself?
On the long drive to town, I acknowledged to myself, “I am sad.” I reflected on the question, “Just what is happening inside of me?” It’s true, I am feeling totally overwhelmed with many pressing responsibilities…yet I had a sense of inner knowing, “That’s not it.” When I peeled down to the core of the issue, I discovered that what is really bothering me is a family member that I care deeply about but can’t seem to impact in a positive way. The negative energy surrounding this person is almost unbearable…and I continue to allow the energy to leak out to me.
I don’t know your philosophy, but every source I study teaches that we are responsible for everything in our life. If this is the case, the thing I have been turning over and over in my mind is, “How can I possibly be bringing something this bad into my life? What is the purpose, and how do I make it go away?”
Driving down the road, the first thing I did was a technique I learned from Doreen Virtue – “cutting the emotional cord.” The theory is we all have attachment cords to other people. This particular cord is draining me of my energy, so I mentally severed it, carefully placing love into both ends of the cord – love to me and love to the other person.
Next, my analytical mind began working hard to “figure it out.” Why is this scenario repeatedly happening? What is the purpose? Why am I creating this scenario in my life? Is it to teach me something? If so, what is it? What am I not learning? Surely this must be it. I am missing something. I am simply not getting it.
I arrived at the lab with these thoughts weighing heavily on my mind. I don’t like to be stuck, so just as she inserted the needle, I turned my head to the side and was stunned to read the following message on the framed wall hanging:
I asked for Strength
And I was given Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom
And was given Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity
And was given a Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage
And was given Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love
And was given Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors
And was given Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted.
I received everything I need.
I was stunned at the message. I asked the lab tech if she knew where I could get a copy of that verse. She said, “Oh, I’ll make a copy for you.” She took the frame off the wall and xeroxed a copy for me. Coincidence that I saw this message at that very moment?
I had to hurry to leave the office because the tears were already forming. On the drive home I remembered, “That’s right. I forgot. We are to express gratitude for everything that happens in our life, for there are no accidents, and everything happens for a reason. I then expressed my gratitude for my long-standing situation and asked for guidance to learn whatever I am to learn and to do the right things going forward.
I then called my husband on the cell phone, hoping he had not yet boarded the plane so I could explain what was wrong with me. I pulled off the side of the road and read the verse to him. He kindly listened and then told me about a program on a thumb drive at home that he thought would be helpful for me to listen to. Wonder what message is on it? There are no accidents, so I look forward to making time today to watch it.
Upon returning home, I clicked through my emails wondering if I would find additional enlightening messages, as I have often found there to be in such situations. This morning was no exception. A friend forwarded an astounding message. Here are a couple of excerpts:
“It’s easy to forget that while we cannot control what happens to us in every area of life, we can learn to control our response to what happens to us. Managing your response to life events is more determinative of your future well-being than the events themselves.”
“Oh, by the way, the brother who sent me the humorous card and with whom I laughed on the phone…one minor detail: He’s waiting for the perfect time to get surgery for the return of basil cell melanoma. But since his recovery time will knock him out of commission for several weeks, he decided to wait. How come? Because two hours after learning that he needed to return for surgery he also learned that his wife has cancer, an aggressive breast cancer that has already begun to spread. So, he will wait three months so that he can give his undivided attention to caring for her. Want to know why I like talking to both of them? They are still laughing, still full of joy, still full of gratitude, still in love with life and each other, and still full of faith.
Committed to your success…and your responses to life,
Tom Barrett, Ph.D”.
Ahh, so much to be grateful for…
