Happy Day!
I’m still in pretty deep with my ginormous DIY project…
But I wanted serenity today. And if I show you very much of this project and you’re prone to nervousness, you’ll have a breakdown.
On Monday after getting up around 3:00am I looked at my surroundings and seriously contemplated sitting down and having a hysterical cry. But there was nowhere to sit, every piece of furniture in the den was taken with pictures, lamps, books, oh and 4 dogs. The chaos in my outside world had insidiously seeped into me. But honestly, there’s no turning back at this point so I breathed deep, grabbed my new best friend (The Paintbrush) and focused on doing the next right thing. Painting my fireplace.
While I was slathering paint on the thirsty brick I wondered…is there a secret to having serenity in the midst of chaos?
I’ve lived through a lot of chaos. Big things like my little brother’s battle with cancer and losing my mother threw my life into chaos for such a long time. Grief does that. More recently, the unplanned pregnancy of my unmarried daughter, Emma, turned my world upside down. On and on my mind thumbed through circumstance after circumstance that threw my life out of serenity.
As I thought about it I realized that not all chaos is huge and heavy. Sometimes really good and exciting events have thrown my world into chaos. There were a few weddings and a job change or two for The Husband. There were remodels in days gone by that took us out of normality for weeks but in the end were bliss. (Remind me to tell you about the time I mentioned to The Husband how fun it’d be if “this” wall in the den were torn down only to come home from a shopping trip later that SAME day to find the wall gone…)
During some of these times I’ve maintained a core of serenity, but more times than not, I’ve lost it.
Wish I had better coping skills…
Kneeling there in front of my fireplace thinking about these things and methodically brushing on creamy paint, something shifted.
I realized I felt something akin to peace. Something like serenity. Maybe I was doing the answer to my question…is there a secret to having serenity in the midst of chaos?
Maybe the secret is, do the next right thing.
Sometimes the next right thing may be taking some time to grieve. To cry. To remember. Other times the next right thing may be saying I love you or I forgive you.
But for today, once again, my next right thing involves The Paintbrush.
And look who came to visit me yesterday…sigh.
She brings love and joy and giggles and smooches…
~No matter what’s going on, when Ellie’s around, all is right with the world~
Sending you love~
You know where to find me today…doing the next right thing…
Linking to Chatting at the Sky’s ~ Tuesday’s Unwrapped
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Robin! Serenity is indeed found in the visit from the grandchild. While our lives are thrown upside down and we realize why God gave children to younger parents, I would not trade those few moments with Braden for anything in the world. He brings laughter, joy, intense laughter, innocence, kisses and hugs, and….serenity…into our lives. That Ellie is a cutie and I am sure she brings you that sense of serenity. I love those times when “alls right with the world” and we have that sense of peace. Blessings and hugs to you today.
.-= Bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..Milestones =-.
i want to hear God in the middle of my days’ chaotic activities. thanks for the word. i’ll try it.
What hit me is this… sometimes peace comes when we let go of the chaos for a while, and look for what we can change. Even if it’s something as simple as picking up a paintbrush. Or smiling at a grandchild.
P.S. I don’t paint and I have no grandchildren. :-< But I love to read and cook.
I know it will look wonderful when you are finished….I have been wanting to do a soft, pale look(whites & blues) to my bed/bathroom but just can’t squeeze in the time.
Now to your post today, I know that you may feel chaos…but apparently painting is your way to relax. Reading your post made me remember a morning years ago when Brad and I were leaving the house early for the regular days treatments at Northside. I was driving us in my car, but Brad drove “Big Blue” his dodge ram truck, a friend drove his yellow “Tonka” jeep and so on….you could spot their vehicles on the road and they were known by that…anyway, we were pulling out of the sub. early and we saw “Tonka” go by with a couple of Brad’s buddies all heading to school. Brad had missed being in school and especially being with his buddies. I honked the horn…they didn’t see us and I didn’t say a thing scared to death that he or myself would brake into tears. We drove on in silence for about 10 mins. when he reclined his seat, closed his eyes and said to me, “Mom, I don’t know why I just don’t get upset about anything anymore, I have never felt like this before.” I cried of course and told him I knew exactly why…God has given you a peace in the midst of your choas! This brought that memory back today..hope you can understand my rambling. Love to you and have a wonderful day painting:)
.-= Lenora Gambrell´s last blog ..Publicize- Facebook — Images =-.
Lenora…sigh. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this…xo
As I relaxed this morning with a cup of
Green Tea and Coconut Creme Coffee
Mate:) reading ATHAH a sense of
melancholy seem to fill the room…..
And then there was Ellie : h ~
love,
dad~
So many are experiencing some form of chaos or loss, or both, in their lives. So many are searching for balance and recovery in their lives.
Your sharing has brought forth a tiny key taking the next step….”do the next right thing.”
Step by step, moment by moment, we want to keep moving.
Wishing you blessings as you, “…do the next right thing.”
Thank you for sharing your life!
.-= magnolia´s last blog .. One Mind- One Heart =-.
Love it. I have been on the road for a couple of days and find serenity in your serenity! Nice to stop, read about your heart and remember to slow down and do the next right thing! There are so many hurting and lonely people that I pray today will get this message (me included). Just do the next right thing and you will back on track and heading in the right direction.
Thanks girl! Ahhhhh…..
.-= Tom Raines´s last blog ..Today’s Affirmation- I stand at the crossroads and choose God’s path Here I find rest for my soul =-.
when in chaos, it’s best to stop relax det mind slowed down
to think before action. prayer is also important. sort out and go with it.
.-= rose´s last blog ..POSTCARDS =-.
Thanks Robin for this site…It is always so refreshing…I woke up thinking how in the world am I going to fit all in today….then I read your blog and Lenora’s and just sat here quietly and still while a small tear rolled down my face and thought…BE STILL and listen!!! Love early a.m. for that…Thanks Ladies!! So glad I reconnected with ya’ll through FB.. etc…Hope to see and chat with you Robin at the reunion…
my first visit here via the wild magnolia..someone who has become a very dear blog friend to me..i sure could relate to this…life=chaos…
mine turned upside down 4 years ago exactly when my mom was dying of pancreatic cancer …summer 2006. and this year losing my toy poodle (my child to me ) to heart failure…some of my blog buddies really helped me through that one..especially magnolia. she sure was there for me..everyday
we have alot in common…i too lived through a remodel here at farmhouse summer of 2008…with a poodle and 2 indoor kittys and it was so HOT that summer…my best friend that year was a paintbrush too..we have since broke up..and i don’t miss him, either..sorry mr. paintbrush.
but there were days i would just sit on the step and CRY….
enjoyed my visit today..i will be back
kary
Robin, just got home from a week at the beach with girlfriends and found this BEAUTIFUL post! Thanks so much for the simple words. I KNOW about “do the next right thing:”, sometimes I just forget. Thanks for the reminder. XO, Pinky
I happened upon your blog from Met. Monday. I can really identify with this post. In the last few weeks I lost my mom, my brother was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, a cousin was diagnosed with cancer and there are ugly and sad family issues regarding my parents home and belongings. I have been painting and decorating my master bedroom in the midst of my grief and concern for family. I guess I have been attempting to make something beautiful from all of the ugly and bad going on in life and trying to create calm and serenity in the midst of chaos. Thanks for sharing.
.-= Robin Fleming´s last blog ..Just The Way It Is =-.
Robin…my heart just aches for you. I’m praying for your peace…xo