The answer this week has been a palmetto bug, a missing filling, and a sick cat. I’m pretty sure none of those are on any list given by motivational speakers. Still pain and potential suffering are always strong motivators on a good day. However, at the time I couldn’t see the purpose in any of the events, but God does have a way of getting our attention. It all started one morning when I was brushing my teeth and seemed to go downhill from there.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs 24:33-34
Earlier this week, a 4-week-old filling fell out of my tooth for no apparent reason. I was merely brushing my teeth, gently, when it was suddenly gone. The truth is the tooth had felt rough to the touch since I regained feeling the day it was put in, but I was just dealing with it, hoping it would smooth out over time. After all the dental work I had done this year, I didn’t want to go back to the dentist for a while. I was willing to make do, but when it fell out, the nerve was exposed. Talk about motivation to get back to the dentist ASAP! Now, it is smooth and comfortable, and I am grateful it is repaired.
The palmetto bug was a gift of sorts from Sassy, one of my cats. On the night I was trying not to disturb the exposed nerve of my tooth, the cats decided to stay by my side to support me. However, she decided to bring the entertainment. I remember her dropping something on the bed. I assumed it was a toy mouse because she does this quite often; however, the other cats soon got involved in the “hunt” for said mouse. At one point I turned on the light and looked myself because they were keeping me awake, but I found nothing. The next morning when I made the bed I still saw nothing. That night when I pulled back the covers, there was a palmetto bug. She had brought it up on the bed to play with and then lost it. I am now motivated to strip the bed and wash the sheets. I would have been tempted to put off the chore for another day or maybe week (Don’t judge!). Now, it is next on my agenda.
The same night my geriatric tomcat, who has IBS, woke me up by walking across me multiple times and whining in my ear. I tried to ignore him. Then, I heard the sound of a cat getting sick somewhere near, which motivated me to make sure it wasn’t on my bed. I got up and found the issue and proceeded to clean it up at 2:30 AM. However, it is better to clean it up when it happens than to find said places the hard way.
I didn’t realize it when it was happening, but all of these irritations were motivations to get up and get moving when I just wanted to curl up in bed and sleep. There was the temptation to just deal with it tomorrow, but as the saying goes tomorrow never comes.
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 9:4
I know it is better to take care of issues as they come up, whether it is a bad tooth or just a task we don’t want to do. The same is true of the good things in life, like enjoying a sunset or using the fine china. We only have today, so let’s make the most of it. Let’s get those pesky chores done early and then go enjoy what the day may bring.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:34
So, get the things you dread the most off of your list first and then go get a cup of tea or coffee, pet an animal or hug a kid, and do something you enjoy. Let God handle tomorrow. He’s better at it anyway.
I had a conversation about motivation with my son today. It seems like a simple enough concept, but if you are lacking it, the struggle is real!
God finds unique ways to motivate me sometimes.
Sometimes it’s just so tempting to put chores off until later. What I’ve learned is that God can fill my “laters” with so much stuff that my “laters” can become “nevers”. And that always leads to more work. 🙂 Great post ma’am. Anytime a post makes me both laugh and pray, it’s a great one! Thank you!
It is true J. D. I just got a new assignment and deadline so I know what you are saying.
Cats, teeth, palmetto bugs. Mine was dogs, tooth, hurricane. All have been resolved. I am always comforted in knowing that God is in my todays – even better, my tomorrows.
This brought back some memories of our cat. They weren’t funny at the time (i.e. cleaning up hair balls), but I can empathize with you. But, it also goes to show what great lessons we learn from our pets when we view through the lens of our Father’s wisdom.
Amazing how God uses the mundane of life and brings our thoughts to lessons He wants to demonstrate to us. Thanks so much for sharing.
I remember the first time I saw a palmetto bug. I had just moved to South Carolina for a year of graduate school. I was living on a house on campus with several other girls and we were getting to know each other in the living room. We saw this big bug on the floor. I thought the bug was gross enough, but then IT FLEW!! We had a heck of a time trying to catch it. It was a good bonding experience, but I’m still a bit freaked out by those huge flying bugs!
My cats kill them, so I never have to deal with them for very long. Sometimes I have to knock them down off the ceiling or high up on a wall so that they can reach them. 🙂
Good cats!!