• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Amelia Rhodes

Author, Speaker, Community Connector

  • Home
  • Welcome
  • Contact
  • Free Resources
  • Speaking
  • Blog
You are here: Home / faith in action / Love Your Ordinary: Frustrations

Love Your Ordinary: Frustrations

February 10, 2014 by Amelia

Happy Monday! The sun was shining here, which is a beautiful (and not very ordinary) thing. I wanted to share with you a quick update on my husband Kedron. So many of you have been praying for him over the past few months as he went through surgery for thyroid cancer. He had his follow-up appointment today, and the doctor gave him the all-clear! They will see him again in 6 months. As of right now, that means he does not need radiation. We are so, so thankful. Thank you all for your prayers, love, and support over the past few months.

So, how did you #LoveYourOrdinary this past week? Did you find ways to infuse your days and routines with love for God and others? I’d love to hear your stories. Please share in the comments below, or if you have a blog, link to a story there!
[pinit]
ordinaryfrustrations
My ordinary challenge this past week was getting in and out of my driveway. I’m not what you would call a “precision driver.” There’s a reason I never, ever attempt to parallel park. With 6 foot piles of snow on either side of our narrowing driveway, if you don’t make the turn at just the right angle, the car is lodged in a snow bank. Add a trash can sitting at the end of the driveway on trash day, and it makes for an impassable obstacle course. I am no ninja driver.

While attempting to make a “quick” run to the grocery for a few items last Monday, I pitched the car into the snow bank and dumped the trash can into the street. I spent ten minutes tipping the trash can back into place and burning rubber to get the vehicle onto the street. I’m going to need new tires by the time we see pavement again.

Once I was finally moving, I had three minutes to calm my nerves before entering the store. (The grocery store is at the bottom of the hill, just outside my neighborhood’s entrance.)  I had three minutes to move past my ordinary frustrations and turn my heart back to love. The people at the grocery store had nothing to do with my frustrating driveway. But I can let frustration ruin the rest of my day and impact the people around me. I know I can. I’m good at it. But part of loving the ordinary means learning to love in the midst of ordinary, exhausting frustrations.

I entered the store for my five items with a quick prayer for help to forget my frustrations. I smiled at the greeter and urged her to stay warm. I made small talk with the cashiers. I was a polite and friendly citizen.

Does it matter? I think so. In a darkening world where people take a gun to the McDonald’s drive through window when their order doesn’t have bacon (that happened in our nearby big city!), we shine God’s light when we respond in love instead of lashing out.

I returned home, over shot my drive, and put the front end of my car into the snowbank. Again. I threw the car into reverse, hit the gas, and while hoping for pavement, I heard crunching and scraping. The passenger side front bumper now sticks out at a funny angle, as if trying to high-five passing cars.

I took a deep breath, made the turn again, scraped against the garbage can and entered the garage. If getting into a snowy driveway was an olympic sport, I wouldn’t qualify for the team. With 2 grocery bags in one hand and my purse in the other, I walked past the front of the car and paused to kick, kick, kick the bumper back in place.

Kedron opened the door and stared at me, his wild woman balancing groceries and a purse while kicking in the front of her car. He raised his eyebrows, but knew better than to ask.

“Snow bank at the end of the drive,” I explained.

He smirked and shook his head. After sixteen years of marriage, it’s not a surprise to him that I’ve nearly taken off the bumper. He loves me anyway, despite his frustrations with my driving. See, it matters! Overcoming frustrations to love!

I entered in and out of my driveway eight times that day. Eight. I had a lot of practice – in both driving and loving in the midst of the frustrations. Is it spring yet?

Diffuse ordinary frustrations with an extraordinary love.

Tweetables:

[tweetherder]Diffuse ordinary frustrations with an extraordinary love. #LoveYourOrdinary[/tweetherder]

[tweetherder]We shine God’s light when we respond in love instead of lashing out. #LoveYourOrdinary[/tweetherder]

 

Filed Under: faith in action Tagged With: #LoveYourOrdinary, community, encouragement, faith, ordinary, snow, winter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessie says

    February 11, 2014 at 7:34 am

    Oh I share your frustrations! The snow is eating my driveway, slowly. Between that and all the snow days there have been weeks when I haven’t left the house in days. I’m starting to twitch.

    • Amelia says

      February 12, 2014 at 1:48 pm

      It’s definitely been a long winter, Jessie! We’re all a bit twitchy.

  2. Lisa says

    February 11, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    We live in the same part of world 🙂 When I first married Kris I honestly broke two rear view mirrors backing out the garage! Loving your ordinary is so powerful in letting Christ reign in your heart. Thanks for reminding me.

    • Amelia says

      February 12, 2014 at 1:48 pm

      Hah! I’m thankful for mirrors that are meant to bend backwards!!

  3. Peter DeHaan says

    February 12, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Your post gives me perspective. The snow is only piled up three to five feet high alongside our driveway, and I’ve not gone anywhere since Sunday!

  4. Amelia says

    February 12, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    It’s better to just stay home, Peter!!

  5. Amy L. Sullivan says

    February 16, 2014 at 7:27 am

    Holy cow. Thyroid cancer? Wow. So thankful he received the all clear.

    • Amelia says

      February 17, 2014 at 8:34 pm

      Thank you! We are so thankful as well.

Trackbacks

  1. Amelia Rhodes » Love Your Ordinary: Help says:
    February 17, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    […] Love Your Ordinary: Frustrations […]

Primary Sidebar

Sign up for posts, giveaways, and updates. Get a free copy of the Family Prayer Activity Guide.

* indicates required
Email Format

Let’s connect!

Recent Posts

  • 6 Keys to Help You Thrive During Major Life Change
  • 7 Truths about Friendship During the Fledging Years {Giveaway!}
  • How to Pray When You’re Stressed Out {plus a giveaway!}
  • Love Vs. You
  • 4 Daily Spiritual Practices to Promote Good Mental Health

Archives

Tags

anxiety beat the blues book review cancer christmas Circle of Friends coffee break community dating dreams encouragement faith family friends friendship funny garden gardening giveaway kids kissing letters love love letters love story marriage million dollar moment motherhood moving ordinary parenting Pray A-Z prayer reviews romance running school speaking stories summer teen dating teen romance winter winter activities writing

Footer

Let’s Connect!

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest

Upcoming Events

Amelia is now scheduling events for 2020-21. Please use the contact form to connect with her about your event.

Encouragement on Pinterest

Copyright © 2023 · Author Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in