There are some lessons I seem to keep repeating. The quote above is a lesson I’m still trying to grasp.
Captain Cavedweller and I have been working on a huge yard project. The latest part of said project was to haul ten tons of paving gravel from our driveway to the backyard. Due to our sand-filtration septic system, no vehicles can drive in the backyard, so all that gravel had to be hauled one wheelbarrow load at a time.
After the second evening of helping haul rock, my carpal tunnel roared to life with a vengeance, so I begged CC to get some help.
He’d asked a coworker to help, but he wasn’t sure he’d be able to.
Under the assumption he wouldn’t be coming to help, I continued working on my current writing project and didn’t bother to do things like clean house and run to the grocery store.
Then CC’s friend called and said he was on his way.
Aaackkk! My house was a mess. I was a mess. I didn’t have a single thing prepared to feed this guy a hearty lunch (which he’d need after helping haul all that rock).
Frantic, I tossed, a pork roast in the oven, made CC vacuum while I speed-cleaned the kitchen and guest bathroom, then raced to comb my hair.
While the guys moved rock, I rushed to finish cleaning the house and prepare a decent meal from what I had on hand.
In the midst of my self-imposed chaos, I thought of the quote above, took a deep breath, and decided other than putting food on the table, the rest of what I was trying to accomplish wasn’t that important. CC’s friend wouldn’t care if the piano had a high shine or a dust bunny or two hid beneath the china cupboard.
I’m sure I’ll need reminded of this lesson again (and again), but I’m going to strive to do better about holding myself to a measure of grace rather than perfection.
