I remember being a 40something single mom of three dramatic daughters. (Actually, it was just their ages, between 13 and 21.) We always had a crisis.
Oh my gosh, you don’t even want to go there. From ER visits to broken hearts, body piercings (without my permission) to a missing child (later to be found stuck on a muddy road out in the middle of nowhere), wrecked cars to the KBI (I kid you not, the KBI!…don’t ask.)
Many times I’d find myself on the short end of having hope. Hope that I’d get 3 beautiful, loving daughters raised. Hope that the financial picture would change. Hope that I’d not be forever single.
I remember once shooting up a prayer on the single issue. “Lord, I’m not even asking for a boyfriend. But could you just give a glimmer of hope…that it’s even a possibility.” Later that day while walking into the grocery store I heard a whistle (you know, one of those cat-call whistles. The kind that make you turn your head and hope it’s directed your way) I turned my head, it was directed at me, for sure. And it was coming from the oldest, ugliest man. Did I get a laugh. I’d asked for hope. And I must have been attractive to someone! God can be funny like that!
Here’s my list of little “pick me up’s” when feeling overwhelmed, a little mopey (is that a word?), or could just use a ‘cat-call whistle’:
*a pedicure…with flaming red polish. nothing better than having sea salts massaged into your calves, and a chair that massages your tush!
*flowers…I don’t care if they are straight from Dillons, flowers on the table can perk me up for several days.
*sticky notes with scriptures written on them. Put one on the bathroom mirror, one on the fridge, one on your computer screen and let God speak to you everywhere you turn.
*new underwear! How often do you buy new underwear? It just feels better…all day long. And no one else has to know why you’re smiling 🙂
*find a Spanish-speaking radio station. I may not understand a word they say, but I’m promising you they have the happiest music!
*and my newest ‘pick me up’…ChocoVine…who would have thought that chocolate and red wine would go together? And I think Jesus would approve, he turned the water into wine, didn’t he?
Sometimes all it takes is the littlest thing to change an attitude, put a smile on your face, give you a little hope and joy. Here’s wishing you a ‘pick me up’ kind of day.
49andcounting 
FINALLY! Someone who has one up on me…the KBI!?? I fear I can relate to all the others only from the sons point of view. (Even the body piercings & that is my “don’t ask” lol) I have 5 sons; you have 3 daughters – what would we have done without hope and the simple things that can bring us just a glimmer of it…a few you listed I have actually tried – love the sticky notes. Thanks girl – for just simply being real. 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement Dawnita. Just hope Grandma doesn’t read this post…she may flip when she see’s KBI! I believe I will tell her, the past is the past. Just Thank you Jesus that we made it through and are all better for it!