Snow and Slowing Down

Lately I have been in a hurry and honestly I'm quite unsettled in my heart.

I've been on the run for over a month now.

I rush to visit my father in his nursing home every night.

I hustle to work extra  hours in attempt to not use my vacation time to take my dad to his appointments.

 I rush to fulfill my parental duties in order to show my daughter she still has a mom.

I give my wife a half ass version of who a spouse should be.

And as far as laundry or dishes?  Forget it!

I just feel like there is not enough of me to go around.

I'm stretched way too thin.

And every night that I go to bed, I think to myself: "Thank God!  I survived another day!"

Today as I was rushing home from work, it was snowing.  It wasn't a huge amount of snow, but it fell fast, the roads were horrid and because I have been so rushed as of late, my tires were balder than Mr. Clean.  I was on the highway when I tapped my breaks, a little to hard and it happened.  

I lost control of the car.

My decline wasn't fast, but I could feel it.

Gently, I steered the car as it veered off the road, and there I sat.

For a minute I was pissed.

Did God honestly think I needed this?!  

Did He not understand that I needed to get home?!  

That I was hungry and wanted Chipotle?!

Did He not understand that my dogs had to pee?!

That I needed to drop my dad's laundry off to him?!

After  I cursed God for a minute, I realized, I needed to slide off that highway.

I needed a reminder to slow down, and unless God physically put my car in a ditch, I was not going to stop on my own.  After I got out of that ditch, I drove home.

Slowly.

Reflectively.

I came home, fired up the washer and dryer, called my dad and explained I would be by with his laundry first thing in the morning, sat down to watch a Hallmark movie and write.

I needed downtime tonight.

I needed a reminder.

I need a different "game plan".

I need new tires.

Tomorrow is a new day.

I'm going to start it new and refreshed.