Frustration

I just heard pots and pans clanging together and Mary’s frustrated voice proclaim, “I’ve got to have some room in this kitchen!!!!!!!”  I know it is not funny but I laughed anyway.  She also added, “You have three shops and I have ten feet.”  Do I sense a bit of resentment?  I built the kitchen cabinets so it must be my fault.  What a joy to live with this girl.  I cherish every moment with her.  She is my best friend and leaving her to go speak somewhere is always difficult for me.  These days we are trying to make the most of every moment together.  We are realists and know that we are nearing the end of our earthly journey.  We enjoy the simple things of life, our deck, flowers, birds, and of course Tramp. We have had an incredible journey together and while we are very different, our differences have served us well.  Now back to the subject of frustration and how it can wrap its tentacles around our lives and leave us miserable.  I get frustrated with my ADD.  I can’t stay with anything for long.  Studying for me has been in tidbits at all hours of the day and night.  I have notes written on everything from napkins to paper plates and I can’t find them when I need them.  I think my greatest frustration is with me.  I keep hoping I can do better but the guy I see in the mirror just gets older.  I am dealing with some of my frustration these days.  I have decided I can’t be like you.  I can’t please everyone and some people will never love me no matter what I do.  I have decided to stop chasing success and go for relationship building.  The question is, can I have a close relationship with Jesus and be a failure? I think not.  I will no longer let you or anyone else define success for me. What matters most to me is that my Heavenly Father is pleased with me.  I am weary of living by other people’s definitions and for me that has been the source of so much of my frustration.  It is His “Well Done” I am in pursuit of and anything that takes me away from that is cause for frustration.  Don’t let the clanging of life’s pots and pans frustrated you. It is not that important.  Stick with the important stuff, stop chasing rainbows and for goodness sake, BE YOURSELF.  Jfs

1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.