Over Shooting The Target?

We have a dog. A big slobbering fur shedding hundred and forty pound teddy bear. We love this dog. Well....he does not know he is a dog. He is part of the Hendrickson family. And, he knows it. He is our brat! He is so smart. He is very protective. He a cuddling game playing sweet dog. With all this we get the fur. This dog sheds enough to knit a nice XL sweater on a daily basis. This is even when brushing him daily.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204666218648415&set=vb.1624173453&type=3&theater
(spike at this finest with the girls)

I wear a lot of black. Not sure this an intelligent move when you have a dog with a monstrous shedding issue and a cat.  Well let's face it. I am not a twig. And black, well it slims us, right?! So, I live in black and I had taken these perfect freshly washed and dried unwrinkled slacks and laid them lovingly on my bed. I go above and beyond to make sure my slacks do NOT have dog hair on them when I leave. I want to... Okay, I am OCD and I NEED to make sure they are free of dog hair. Of course and of anything else displeasing to the eyes or stomach. I would literally climb a mountain or swim an ocean (and I HATE water/swimming) to avoid this dog hair (but, I love this dog).

 

(Kielee & Spike) 

Anyway, I this particular morning I went through a lot to ensure hair free slacks. I was so focused on these hair free slack. I had showered, blow dried my hair. Applied my make-up. And, was standing in my room in my undergarments. Ready to take on the day ahead. You know it was one of those days. Where you are ready to face and take on the world. Because, You know this nice clean outfit that looks so good on you and makes you feel pretty darn amazing.  Yep, I am about to put it on!!!  I excitedly glanced over at these nice clean wrinkle-free hair-free slacks. Okay, things like this make me happy. Yes, I am aware I may be in need of some kind of medication. But, since that has not been diagnosed. I mean than anyone, only web MD. I'll continue to be excited about clean clothes and a clean house.  Well as I was basking in the happiness of the hair free slacks. I attempted, yes attempted to apply lotion to my lizard legs. That special kind of lizard legs, that only comes with the wonderful season we call winter. As I gently pushed down on my favorite bottle of lotion. The lotion came shooting out of the nozzle, like a bullet form a 357 magnum. It overshot my hand and over my shoulder and would you know it...... Onto the freshly cleaned, hair free slacks. Not just a normal small amount. But, enough to lotion a small child. UGH!!!!!! I was not the slightest bit pleased. I was so focused. I was so intently careful to make sure these slacks were perfect. And, in this split second they were trashed. Dirty and un-wearable. Still without dog hair.

Sometimes we hear people say "I knew at that moment God was speaking to me." Well, Seriously at that moment I KNEW!  There are so many times I have been so focused on that thing over there! Whatever that thing may be. I was so intently focused on those dog hair-free slacks laying over there. That I had missed the mark right in front of me. How many times have we missed the mark directly in front of us. How many times what that mark important. How many times if we had just focused on that mark we could have prevented the mess ahead.  More times than I can count on my fingers and toes. Okay, if were being honest I might count the hair on my head, too!

 

(Yes, this was me this morning)

I felt God telling me.... STOP obsessing on that over there. On the things up head. If you don't want to be messy then focus on the task in front of you. Because sometimes there will be slacks that are not dog-hair-free. And, that is okay. Just focus on what I have placed directly in front of you today. Focus on who I have placed in front of you today. And, tomorrow and the next day and the next day focus on that task. That person. And, watch how messes can be prevented. And, because God loves us. That is what he does. In Isaiah 45:2 he tells us this "This is what the LORD says: "I will go before you,  and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron." We need not worry. That is what he does. Instead do as instructed in Philippians 4:6  "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." 

So, I challenge you what I have challenged myself. To stop. To focus. To intently give all I've have to the task in front of me. The person in front of me. Because, at that moment that is what is important. And, do you know how to know each one of those moments are the most important moments. Are you breathing?  If you are reading this I am sure you are! Then, that is what makes it important. Everything we choose to do. Every minute throughout our life. We are exchanging a moment in time for. Focus on the moment. The right here right now moment. And, find the joy in each one. I vow to not miss another moment and to see the joy in the moment. The gift of the moment, the task or the person.