Non-stick Bandages & Personal Rainclouds

Over the weekend Drummer was in the garage getting his bike out.  It happened to be next to Ryan's motorcycle which he had just driven, so it was hot.  Drummer's leg touched it and instantly burned a patch of skin off.  He came running inside, unable to tell me what had happened, until I guessed.  I texted my bother-in-law who is an ER physician and he told me to use non-stick bandages (they saved the day!) and liberal amounts of bacitracin. As I was opening the bandage box, this subtly placed message appeared.  It made a little smile appear on my lips, like someone was giving me a pat on my back, letting me know it was going to be okay.

I've been thinking about it ever since.  It isn't hard to care for those you love, though...because you love them.  Sometimes it's caring for those outside your roof that comes with more of a conscientious effort.  I was having an angry day earlier this week, feeling misunderstood and mistreated.  The kind where it feels like steam is pouring from your ears and you just can't shake that pesky dark raincloud that's following you around.  I couldn't concentrate on anything because of it.  I just wanted to fume.  I then decided I needed to think about someone else to get my mind off my anger.  First I texted an older woman in my church who has had a lot of health problems and recently her dog, who is pretty much her only family, has been having seizures.  I checked in with her, just to let her know I was thinking about her.  But that only took a few seconds of my time and squelched a portion of the ear-steam.  So then I called Olga.  Olga is also an older woman who lost her husband, the love of her life, a few months ago and was now facing losing her mother.  Olga just needed someone to talk to.  I listened and listened and listened until she had said everything that was on her heart.  At the end of our conversation, she thanked me and called me her angel.  Little did she know that she was mine.  She was saving me from my own anger and frustration, helping me put a little dab of perspective on my wound of narrow-mindedness and self-pity. Isn't it interesting how we grow to love those we care for and not just the other way around? Have a happy Monday!