For some reason today it’s on my mind today that often the only thing we need to change in a situation is our perspective. Or maybe it’s our attitude. Not sure of the right word there.

For instance, yesterday I was working on supper, and reached into the fridge to get the sausage that was next in the recipe, and the sausage wasn’t there. Not only was there no sausage, I didn’t have any bacon or ground beef that I could use as a substitute. For that matter, I didn’t have any lunchmeat, and I quickly rejected hot dogs as a useful substitute for sausage in my biscuits and gravy. I was so discombobulated that I just had to turn off the stove and walk away. I needed time to think. I was so frustrated and upset that my necessary ingredients were missing, but being upset didn’t make them magically appear, so I realized that wasn’t a useful emotion to entertain.

Going to the store for more sausage was ruled out. Not enough time. Using another meat wasn’t an option. But what could I do?

I went to take my short nap, and while I laid there, I thought and thought. I decided that instead of giving up, I needed to see this as a challenge rather than a problem. Surely this puzzle could be solved. I pondered what I did have in my fridge and pantry. I pondered what else might be used in my recipe instead of having sausage. How would I do this if I were making a vegetarian version of biscuits and gravy? As I dozed, I came up with a few ideas. When I popped up from my nap, I quickly worked on rescuing my half-completed supper using my new ideas.

Fact is, supper really wasn’t anything notable. I’ll never repeat it on purpose. But at least we had something to eat, and it wasn’t frozen pizza.

But lest you think that I always approach my frustrations with this charming change in perspective, I must admit to you that while writing this post, my children have been driving me absolutely nuts. While sitting on the couch, they crowded around me, poking and jostling and bumping me. No measure of telling them to stop would persuade them to be still. Finally I stalked off to my bedroom to escape the craziness. Of course, kids quickly followed. I lost no time in shooing them away to leave me in peace. Now I hear kids squabbling out in the living room, making irritating noises to each other, and being quite impossible. I just want to run from the house screaming.
I don’t even know how to practice my own preaching. I have no idea how to change my perspective or attitude to get through this.
Now all I need is for someone to tell me I’m their hero, or exclaim with admiration, “I just don’t know how you do it with all those kids!” If only they knew how unheroic I am sometimes.

Yesterday when I went into work, I found out that my one remaining co-worker had quit. Thing is, he has quit many times since he started working for the good folks at World Gourmet Foods, so they aren’t terribly surprised. No doubt he’ll come back at some point and they’ll hire him again. But for now, he’s gone.
Even though I wasn’t particularly close to my co-worker, we still worked toward a common goal of doing all the little things that it takes to keep World Gourmet running smoothly. It actually felt lonely to look around and think that I was the only one left.
But more importantly, I feel a great concern for my employers. I need to stop working and go back to making my family my only focus. I’ve said I’ll work until the end of September, which is a week from Wednesday. My bosses have accepted that, and haven’t said anything about me working past that date. But surely they wonder if I could be persuaded to stay just a little longer. I don’t know.
I suppose I shouldn’t really worry about it. Not my problem. I need to get on with my life.
But I am concerned. Hopefully everything will work out fine.

Ok, here’s one thing I’ve learned from my experience in working at World Gourmet Foods.
Any time you invest yourself in something, you become attached to that thing.
The day after I gave notice to my bosses, they put a “Help Needed” sign on the door, and placed a pile of applications near the register. I have to say, it gave me a pit in my stomach to realize that it was my fault that they were having to find someone else to work there. I don’t know how to explain the feeling, except to say that it just wasn’t comfortable. They were super nice about it, and haven’t at all made me feel bad about needing to be done working there. But I still feel awkward.
I’m thinking that this holds true in other things in life too. If we invest ourselves in something, we get attached to it. If we serve in church, we get attached. If we work hard on remodeling our house, we get attached to it. If we work hard at schooling our children, we get attached to it.
It’s just something to think about.

Last Friday I gave notice at my work. I thought it would be easy, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought.
Still, now it’s done, and I am planning to be done working by the end of September.
I’d like to start writing some of the thoughts I have about working there, and some of the things I’ve learned.
But right now the family is eating breakfast and then getting ready for church. So there’s no time for long thoughtful thoughts.