perspective

(org. published on our adoption blog.)

So, I am a total brat lately. I have been so annoyed with having to drive to Charlotte tomorrow--as it will cost $120 in gas, 8 hours in the car on my already bad back, Micah has to take off work, and we're taking Riley (who travels so well--are we there yeeeetttttt?). But what I failed to realize/remember is that this is all for an adoption. Expanding our family. Giving Riley a sibling; Micah and I have great relationships with our siblings, and we desperately want the same for her. So why am I a brat? (Sit tight, because you may be one, too.)

I had coffee with a group friends last night--not so much friends as acquaintances who don't even know I run a blog (actually two). Here are a few things they are dealing with, which I only share with you to put all of our lives in perspective (names are changed in case they stumble on this accidentally).

Jenn just lost her home and car. She has to be out by the 15th of the month.

Natalie just found out she had breast cancer. She's scheduled for a mastectomy, which will remove the cancer--probably all of it. BUT, the scheduled mastectomy will keep her from getting to her father sooner. He's on his death bed in another state.

Finally, Chris' sister died on Sunday. He has had a pretty bad drinking problem in the past, and hasn't had a drink in a long time. He teared up as he told me he was terrified of drinking again but he was so upset he didn't know how he was going to get through it.

Driving to Charlotte is a problem--of luxury. How many times do we get annoyed at things that are beyond our control, but, in the grand scheme of things, are merely inconveniences?