I have too many things.
Yes, I know. I told you, not too long ago, that I’m downsizing. But, there are some things that are essential, or at least we think are essential, that can be a real pain in the neck.
For instance, when I go somewhere, I take my purse and my cell phone. I usually take my sunglasses, because my eyes are very sensitive to sunlight. And I have to keep my ears covered with a hat or headband in all kinds of weather to prevent a cold or earache.If I can make it to my destination and back with all four items intact I call the outing a success.
It’s hard for me to keep track of all of those things, especially if I make more than one or two stops. Besides, if I go to a concert, I then have a water bottle to add to the confusion. It’s a water bottle that I keep on hand and refill as needed. I have lost and/or misplaced every one of those items and more.
For instance, last Saturday I left my cell phone in my seat at the Bluegrass concert. Sweetheart and I had gone a mile when I discovered it was missing. We got back to the concert hall just as the caretakers had shut out the lights and were locking the door.
On Sunday Sweetheart and I left the jubilee at church and started home. We had gone about two miles when I got a text from the pastor’s wife asking me if I had left my bag that contained my empty casserole dish on the settee at the back of church. Indeed, I had. Back we went to retrieve it.
Monday night was the dance. I laid out all of my possessions on the table there and hung my coat and headband on the coat rack. When it was time to go home, I made certain that I had every little thing before I walked out of the door. Ah! Success!
I mustn’t be smug, though, because Tuesday was a different story. I went to my old home town to take care of some business. I went to the grocery store before I visited with a friend. As I left her house, I reached into my back pocket only to discover my cell phone was missing. Nor was it anywhere in the car.
I strongly suspected that I had taken it out of my back pocket so I could use the facilities at the grocery store. I have dropped my cell phone in the commode on two different occasions when I failed to do so. (But, that’s another story.) I usually put it in a conspicuous place so I can see it and remember to pick it up again. This time I must have had other things on my mind.
When I got to my daughter’s house, I asked her to make a phone call to the grocery store. My suspicions were confirmed. I picked the phone up on the way home.
I am convinced that God watches over my cell phone. Or, maybe God watches over me. I have heard horror stories about people who have left theirs somewhere and it has been stolen and used for nefarious purposes.
Losing and misplacing and forgetting things can be exasperating—especially when it happens so often. When it does, I have to remind myself of that old saying that I see emblazoned on the front of t-shirts from time to time, “Be patient. God isn’t done with me yet.”
Maybe, the person we most need to be patient with is ourselves.
Dorothy is the author of two books—“Miles and Miracles” and “Getting It All Together “. You can purchase a book or send a comment by emailing her at dorothybutzknight@gmail.com
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