Oversized Load

It was about this time last year that I wished Bill could have walked behind me in the stores with a big sign reading "oversized load." I was pregnant and a little nauseous and a VERY slow mover. This is not a prime way to feel during the holidays . . . especially in the middle of all the holiday hustle and bustle. Everyone seems a little more rushed and a lot more stressed out. Rushed holiday shoppers would huff passed me and mutter expletives under their breath.

Well, this year I'm NOT pregnant but now am toting two kids around and we are . . . well, we don't do anything fast anymore. A few days ago we stopped in the store to look for a present for Daddy. Ike took a couple minutes to make his choice and during that couple minutes we got glared at, sped passed, and an angry woman stopping away. From my experience, Costco during the holidays is ALWAYS crowded! You have to wait your turn. I must annoy them further by smiling and inwardly laughing at their behavior. Hey! That might be why other shoppers stomp off:) Never thought of that! Guess I'd better work on that . . .

Yesterday I braved the grocery store and again we got barked at by some lady and glared at. Many people seem to think the Christmas spirit doesn't belong in the grocery store.

Every once in a while, I feel this Grinch-like attitude sneaking into my home. I get frustrated and annoyed too. But our homes are no place for such behavior, so I find myself having to readjust my attitude, apologize for wrong behavior, or stop what I'm doing for me and do something for others.

So this year I'm trying my best to keep my home Grinch-free :) I'll be drinking a STRONG cup of coffee and reading a Proverb along with it. And giving God the burden of my "oversized load." I hope you will too:) No one wants to remember the holidays as the time when mother always loses her cool!