It was today, May 24, 2025, that I finally did it. Better late than never, I suppose. It wasn’t easy. As a matter of fact, it was really freaking hard! It’s easier to give up things that aren’t fun. But here I am, sitting in the cool, green grass of my front lawn and simply enjoying the moment.
Earlier in the week, someone did something that made me fiercely angry. By fiercely angry, I mean sister of the Incredible Hulk. I was furious. I spent more time than I should’ve plotting my retaliation. Details were important. (Lest you think I’m kidding, please refer to my previous post from November titled “Does This Banana Bread Taste Funny?”) I don’t like mean people and this one sent me over the edge.
I’m notorious for overcommitting myself and thinking I’m going to do 36 hours of work in a 24-hour day. It’s what I do. Although over the years I’ve certainly gotten better, I know I still cling to things unnecessarily. As an example, mowing the yard is honestly one of my favorite chores. If I mow everything and trim and weed-eat, it takes somewhere close to eight hours. Has my husband offered to do it? Yes. Have I ever let him? Absolutely not! That’s just nonsense.
Another example would be our beekeeping. What started as a simple hobby for my husband when we bought this property quickly turned into a small business. Our peak year, we bottled almost 1,000 pounds of honey. We enjoy learning new things and the people we’ve met through selling it have been amazing. But it’s so much work. When he started talking about selling our supplies and getting out, I wasn’t happy.
But remember, it was today, May 24, 2025, that I finally did it. I put my foot down. Literally. I was on the mower under the warm afternoon sun. Several sections couldn’t be mowed today because of the significant spring rains we’ve been enduring. I drove around those areas to the back of the property where I knew soggy ground wouldn’t be an issue. After two or three passes along the pasture fence I suddenly found myself in a swarm of bees. A massive swarm. I did an abrupt turnaround and headed the opposite direction.
This was it. I was tired. I’ve officially been worn down and I’m not gonna do it anymore. I went to the house and told my husband. Within two minutes, we were in agreement. We’re done with the bees. At some point, decisions have to be made.
Knowing what a tremendous weight we had just shed, I decided I shouldn’t stop there. I’m not going to mow a significant portion of the property on the south side. It’s close to the road and everyone will see it (including me). I won’t like how it looks. I’ll wonder what people say when they drive by. But I’m done.
I allowed someone to hijack my peace and turn me into an ugly, green monster. In the meantime, I’m also doing countless things that simply don’t have a bearing on anything important. How silly is that? So I did it. I put my foot down. I stepped off the mower, grabbed a cold drink, took off my flip-flops, and plopped my now happy little rear in my cool, green grass and just sat there. Finches and hummingbirds were in every direction. Clouds sauntered overhead. A ground squirrel was playing on the stump nearby. And I smiled. I smiled mostly because it felt really good to make those decisions.
Am I still a little angry? Yep. No sense in lying. But my anger is tempered by Jesus. He reminds me that He “prepares a table in the presence of my enemies” and He “makes me lie down in green pastures”. He is so very good to me.
Psalm 23:2, 5 ~ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures……….You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…….