I read this quote on Facebook: "What matters is the nature of the sufferer, not the nature of the sufferings. Stir a cesspool and a foul stench arises. Stir a perfume and a delightful fragrance ascends. But the movement is identical." Augustine – The City of God
Wow.
Do you get it? It's all about attitude and let me tell you, mine stinks. I'm stirring a cesspool most days. Sure, I'm not happy Anna has autism and uncontrolled seizures. I'm tired. And I’m tired of being tired. I hate feeling oppressed by the situation. I try to look for blessings, but I often fall short of seeing them.
It isn't all bad, you know. Anna is loving and sweet. She loves unconditionally. And because of her, I'm able to stay home and work on my writing and editing. It's rather nice not to have to venture out into the world to work.
And it's not the big things that get me. It's the little ones. I have a small bookmark that says:
"Tis the little things that bug us
And tend to hold us back.
We can sit upon a mountain
But not upon a tack.
So true! I know this and I still let things get to me. What can I do about this? I'm going to work harder to see the blessings I have. And I'm going to try to get more rest so I can bear the burdens better. I don't want to stir the cesspool anymore. Who's with me?
Good from Covid?
pam
5/18/2023
Encouragement from a fellow special mama
pam
7/31/2020
A Sister's Love
pam
5/16/2019
Medical Moms
pam
1/26/2019
The Power of Doritos
pam
5/7/2018
Yay For Friends!
pam
1/9/2018
Show You!
pam
9/11/2017
Happy? 26th Birthday, Anna
pam
5/15/2017
Re-grouping
pam
3/14/2017
We can relate!
pam
9/1/2016
A Little Fall Fun
pam
10/18/2015
Going Commando
pam
10/5/2015
So Behind
pam
9/22/2015
Stares and Storytime
pam
4/12/2015
Big Big Changes
pam
3/27/2015
Blog Post on Autism
pam
9/22/2014
The Power of Pets
pam
9/12/2014
Depression's Demands
pam
8/15/2014
Do We or Don't We?
pam
8/4/2014
Falling Down
pam
6/22/2014
Research Study
pam
5/23/2014
Who goes? Who stays?
pam
5/19/2014
Being Thankful
pam
4/25/2014
Excellent Article
pam
4/7/2014
Jury Duty and Holland
pam
3/27/2014
I Confess
pam
3/17/2014
The Dreaded Medication Change
pam
3/4/2014
Keeping It Together - part seven
pam
2/24/2014
Keeping it Together - part six
pam
2/10/2014
A Milestone Day
pam
2/3/2014
Keeping it together - part five
pam
1/21/2014
Keeping It Together - part four
pam
1/3/2014
Keeping it Together - part three
pam
12/16/2013
Keeping it Together - part two
pam
12/9/2013
Keeping it Together - part one
pam
12/5/2013
Catching Up
pam
11/13/2013
The Perfect House
pam
10/25/2013
Another Mom in the Mix
pam
10/7/2013
Grieving the Loss
pam
9/24/2013
Great article
pam
9/11/2013
This and That
pam
9/9/2013
Fun in the ER
pam
8/30/2013
Bless me, Anna!
pam
8/14/2013
Talk to me, Anna!
pam
8/8/2013
God's Will
pam
7/30/2013
Update on Anna's bloodwork
pam
7/24/2013
Stirring the Cesspool
pam
7/11/2013
Vacation and Other Fun Stuff
pam
7/3/2013
A Day at the Beach
pam
6/17/2013
Anna's Surgery Experience
pam
6/5/2013
No Place For Anna
pam
5/26/2013
Painful Gifts
pam
5/21/2013
Happy 22nd Birthday, Anna!
pam
5/15/2013
A Rough Day
pam
5/6/2013
Things I've Learned - part five
pam
4/30/2013
Things I've Learned - part four
pam
4/22/2013
Things I've Learned - part three
pam
4/15/2013
Things I've Learned - part two
pam
4/9/2013
Interview with Terri Groh
pam
4/5/2013
Things I've Learned - part one
pam
4/3/2013
The Things People Say - part eight
pam
3/27/2013
Comparisons
pam
3/18/2013
Why Is It A Blessing?
pam
3/11/2013
Tim's Place
pam
3/8/2013
New Medication Worries
pam
3/5/2013
A Night Out for Anna
pam
2/25/2013
Play it again, Sam
pam
2/20/2013
Happy Birthday
pam
2/15/2013
The Anna Bowl
pam
2/4/2013
The Queen of Babble-on
pam
1/30/2013
Really, people?
pam
1/25/2013
Cold Feet
pam
1/23/2013
Hearing God
pam
1/15/2013
Running Away
pam
1/10/2013
Post-Christmas-Reentry-Syndrome
pam
1/4/2013
Emmanuel, God With Us
pam
12/17/2012
Take Heart
pam
12/7/2012
Jumping in the Leaves
pam
11/27/2012
Being Thankful
pam
11/19/2012
Patience and Love and Wretchedness
pam
11/13/2012
A Typical Halter Vacation
pam
11/8/2012
Is This Really My Life?
pam
11/1/2012
Frankenstorm
pam
10/27/2012
A Small Victory at Anna's Program
pam
10/24/2012
Update on the problem at Anna's program
pam
10/22/2012
The Fight Goes On
pam
10/19/2012
Fighting the Good Fight
pam
10/18/2012
Sit down, Anna
pam
10/16/2012
The Things People Say - conclusion
pam
10/15/2012
The Cloaking Device
pam
10/12/2012
The Things People Say - part seven
pam
10/11/2012
The Things People Say - part six
pam
10/10/2012
The Things People Say - part five
pam
10/9/2012
The Things People Say - part four
pam
10/4/2012
The Things People Say - part three
pam
10/3/2012
The Things People Say - part two
pam
10/2/2012
The Things People Say - part one
pam
10/1/2012
Godzilla Lives at my House
pam
9/27/2012
The Early Bird Gets Eaten
pam
9/26/2012
Over and Over Again
pam
9/25/2012
What Good Are Seizures?
pam
9/21/2012
Why Me?
pam
9/20/2012
The Rest of my Life?
pam
9/19/2012
Feelings
Pam
9/18/2012