By Mary Muirhead
Caller: (cheerfully penitent) I’m sorry I haven’t called to arrange this sooner, but things have been kinda crazy around here. . . .
Receiver: (with acceptance) We can still get it done. I’ll have to make some adjustments to the schedule, move things around, but I’m sure Overheard on My Phone or “She hasn’t got back to me.”
Caller: (cheerfully penitent) I’m sorry I haven’t called to arrange this sooner, but things have been kinda crazy around here . . . .
Receiver: (with acceptance) We can still get it done. I’ll have to make some changes, move things around, but I’m sure we can still make it work. We’ll do it next Friday at 2:30. OK?
Caller: (guiltily) Thank you. Sorry to be an inconvenience to you and the others, but I had contacted Ms So-and-So and (in an exasperated or perhaps injured tone), she hasn’t got back to me. . . . .
Sounds like me!
I’m not repeating a real call – but it is the sort of phone call, complete with excuses, that I have made too often in my life, for whatever reason.
But the thing that bothered me at this time was not my procrastination, or my inability to make up my mind and get things done – two of my least endearing qualities, by the way.
I’m not talking either about my failing memory, which is now on hyperdrive and lets me down rather often these days! Ha!
The thing that bothered me was my subtly drawing Ms So-and-So into the picture, to account for my delay.
Why did I have to do that?
Why must there be somebody else to blame?
Ironically, no one was angry at me for my failure; things were still going to work out.
So why does this little glimpse into my life seem important to me?
Two reasons, I think, because there are two things I need to learn.
- Just say sorry and be done with it; there’s no need to go on and on.
- Don’t leave things undone, carrying today’s daily tasks into tomorrow.
I’m reading Matthew:
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. (Matthew 6:34 New International Version)
Each day. When tomorrow comes there will be lots to do. I don’t need to add to it.
The King James Version reads, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”, and I hear a smile in Jesus’ voice as I nod in recognition of this truth.
I understand this to mean, “Do what needs to be done at the time it is supposed to be done”.
When I do this, there is no need to worry about tomorrow or to play the blame game for the undone deeds of the past.
When I pray, “Lead me not into temptation”, I should be aware that I can quite easily lead myself there.
Simple, eh?
Simple maybe, but not easy – at least not for me.
But I am trying. — Prayerfully.