Petty Pity Party
This was last July 15, while Manong and I were roaming around Museum Island in Berlin. Our flight was late Saturday afternoon so we had the whole morning to enjoy Berlin. Manong was sulky and grumpy because it was very warm, and there was not much to see. I left him somewhere as my patience wore thin, before I did anything rash. Instead I took pictures while marvelling at the splendid architecture around me.
There are days when we are tested by the circumstances around us. What usually makes me grumble at home is when I "find myself doing more things" when in fact, each of us have assignments and tasks so we can maintain a clean and orderly living space. There were times I would be surly that everyone would be affected, ending our whole day ruined.
I remembered Pastor Chantel talking about how she had a pity party, crying inside a closet when none of the kids or her husband appreciated her juggling everything, while her husband was sick in bed, and no one to help her with the young ones, and on top of work.
I can imagine myself in this situation while the kids were still small, and there was work, house chores, while being a wife, a friend, or be involved in different communities.
Life can get so overwhelming; drowning with all the stress and flurries of activities around us that we end up burning ourselves out.
We can't carry all these when we rely on our own strengths. It's really important to always remember that in everything we do, to ask God to be with us.
Pray.
Asking the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and fill us. To help us, guide us, lead us and sustain us.
Whenever I start spiralling down into the pit of a petty pity party, I pause and pray. Closing my eyes, taking a deep breath, I ask the Holy Spirit to empty me of this world, and to fill me.
With the Holy Spirit in me, I can control what is within my sphere of influence. I can opt to let the negative emotions go. Be more understanding why my boys did not wake up early to help me clean the house. Be more loving and patient. This way, I can tell them lovingly to help me when they start waking up.
We can control our reactions. Without the Holy Spirit, it would be so easy to be angry, to say hurtful things, and be mean to the people around you, people you love.
When someone said, "You're getting fat". Well... it is someone's observation, and most likely is true. Don't get offended. Acknowledge it. If you feel unhealthy, work it out. Walk. Any movement is always good anyways 😄💪
When you feel someone demands too much of you, opt to say no. Prioritize. Remember saying yes to something means you are saying no to something else.
Pray.
Seek the Lord, seek His guidance.
We can live a purpose-driven, peaceful and joyful life if we let the Holy Spirit in, and let the negative emotions go.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
And so before I ruined our free day at Berlin, I invited Manong to eat the "best currywurst" and the "best ice cream" in Berlin. He was happy to go on a train ride with me to the other side of the town 😎😍
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