Focus, Stupid

My name is The Mad Monk and I have a problem.

Not the kind that requires a 12 step program.  But a one kick program.  Put one swift kick on my backside, and maybe I’ll get it.

Too easily things that don’t matter crowd out those things that do matter.  And worse, sometimes I forget that the unimportant has supplanted the important.  And worse still, I am unaware of the effects of an earlier stupid act.

Fortunately, God in His graciousness shows me how stupid I can be and allows me to make amends.  Tonight was one of those times.

We’ve had some cool, dry weather blow in.  The kind that begs for an evening walk.  And since we have a couple of good sized dogs (45 pound black lab mix and a 100 pound chocolate lab) a good walk with the dogs sounds like a great idea.

So I ask Sis to take the little dog and join me on the jaunt.  But she’s playing with LiverPie.  So I ask Liv to come along.  And that’s when it hit me.  Liv looks at me with sad tear-filled eyes and said, “I can’t come.  You told me I couldn’t take another walk with you because I can’t keep up”.

And I wanted to deliver the swift kick to myself.  I apologized to Liver, put the dogs on leashes and even loaded up LittleBit in her stroller.  So I took Harley, Liv had Pepper and Sis commanded the stroller.  The walk wasn’t the usual calorie burner I like.  But oh what conversations we had!

Beautiful stars and a shining moon.  A hint at what we would be learning tomorrow during family worship.  And how much I love all my girls.

Please, Lord, help me not be so stupid in the future.  And thank you for reminding me nothing beats a cool evening walk with my girls.