Life Rules

There have been times in my life when I've been in places other than where I was supposed to be.  In college, I would occasionally stay out too late and then skip classes the next day.   A few years ago, I got into the habit of occasionally skipping meetings at Church.  My truancy has mostly been innocuous, but always totally selfish and usually preceded by some kind of frustration that I couldn't handle.

This morning didn't start well.  With six people all trying to look beautiful AND get to church on time, it's rare that there isn't some frustration about something.  Today was one of those days when the frustration was rampant.  I looked like a mess in everything I put on.  TCD needed her dress ironed and wanted to borrow the sweater I was WEARING!  (I made her iron her own dress and told her to pick a different sweater.)  Spell Girl put off taking her shower until much too late in the morning and then requested a complicated hairstyle.  I asked June to brush her teeth no less than 16 times (and after sitting next to her at church, I have my doubts that she actually did it.)  And Mack told us right before we walked out the door (for the third week in a row) that his church shoes are too small.  (why can none of us remember this during the week when we can do something about it??)  

Almost every Sunday morning, TCD and I leave about an hour before the rest of the family to go to choir.  And we usually pick up a neighbor and her daughter on the way.  This morning, though, my neighbor drove herself and TCD was no where near ready, so I went by myself.  For a second, the thought crossed my mind to do something other than go to choir.  I had my music.  I had a car.  I had almost 45 minutes before church actually started and no one would know the difference.  

But in the last several months, I have learned the value of being where I'm supposed to be.  And I was supposed to be at choir.  So even though I had the music turned up really loud (Bon Jovi Superman Tonight), the Life Rules that I've established were louder in my head...

Be good.  Be Patient.  Don't Forget.

Be where you're supposed to be. 

So, I drove to the church...sat in the car until the song was over...and a little reluctantly walked into the building.  And guess what!  I thoroughly enjoyed choir.  My head is still so stuffy that I didn't contribute much to the songs, but I enjoyed it anyway.  And then I sat next to my family in church and thoroughly enjoyed that, too.  And then my primary class was awesome.  Even though the lessons are much too short for the allotted hour and the kids are all SO filled with Summer Fever that they can hardly sit still, we managed a fun, mildly uplifting lesson.  After church, I took a much needed nap.  Our Home Teachers came over and taught a great lesson about HOPE that I loved.  And then we had a lovely visit with our kids' "adoptive grandparents" in Carrollton.

If I had made a different decision this morning, the rest of the day might have looked different than it did.  I might have missed some great things.  I'm glad I went to choir.  I'm glad the day ended better than it started.  And I'm glad the Life Rules are more often louder than the rest of the noise in my head.