I fell off the ball.

I fell off the exercise ball yesterday during Jazzercise. 

See, I've been in a little bit of a funk since before Christmas.  Maybe because my parents were far away for the holidays.  Maybe because it's been raining for 471 days (or something like that).  Maybe because Kevin's been working a lot.  But for whatever reason, the funk settled in.  I have been diligently trying to pray my funk away, begging God to give me some relief from my bad mood or at the very least, please help me stop snapping at my kids.  I woke up yesterday morning determined to be gentle, but by 8:30 I was shouting, "Get out of the dog kennel and put your shoes on for the love of Pete!!!"

Maybe I need a good work out, I thought, so I went to the high impact class at Jazzercise.  I am not a high impact kind of gal, but I was desperate.  Somewhere around the last 3/4 of the class she asked us to grab an exercise ball.  You're probably all familiar with exercise balls.  They look like a great load of fun until you have to use them and then it becomes painfully obvious that the devil probably invented them and sells them at outrageous prices from the gates of hell. 

And that's when it happened.....at the height of my emotional and physical frustration, I fell off the ball.

I don't even know what I did to fall off.  One minute I was on top of it trying to make my chest and abdominals "look like a table top" and the next minute my booty was on the ground.  The ball had flown out from underneath me and the person exercising behind me caught it. 

There's nothing like a little humility to remind you who is God and who is not. 

Okay, God, I give.  Show me.

Because I can't even stay on top of the stupid exercise ball these days and I need some help.  I've literally hit my the bottom.  Show me the way out of this mood.

Later that afternoon I walked in on Michael (8) fussing at Parker (2 1/2) for scattering a deck of cards all over the room.  It was like someone had recorded my voice and was playing it back through my son.  Aaaaahhh, I thought.  There it is.  When your children fussing at one another becomes the blessing you need to snap you out of it.  The Lord does work in mysterious ways.  Mysterious, but mighty.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are my ways higher than your ways,
And my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and snow come down from heaven
And do not return to it without watering the earth
And making it bud and flourish,
So that it yields seed for the sower
And bread for the eater,
So is my word that goes out from my mouth.
It will not return to me empty,
But will accomplish what I desire
And achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out with joy
and be led forth in peace...." Isaiah 55:8-12

Will today be better?  Yes, I think so.  The turtles were back in the creek when we walked to school this morning.  That's got to be a sign.  But in case you're running short of your own signs, remember His word.  That His way is high and mighty and good.  That His will for you is joy and peace.  That His plan has a purpose, and His purpose will succeed. 

XOXO....Kelly