Saturday, March 24, 2012

Lighten Up


Matthew 11:30

The Message (MSG)
 28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Bolded by me.)



I'm mainly talking to myself here but if you want to keep reading, I could sure use the company! There has been more "heavy" moments than "light". But I can see that there is a pattern here. In the midst of the "heavy", I have failed to look for the "light".


A few weeks ago, J's stepmom passed away. In spite of it being a difficult one, there were a few moments of lightening up. One, I don't usually view the body in the casket. I would much rather remember the person before they passed away. But, following J's lead as he went up to the casket, I looked. I mean, REALLY LOOKED! I tried to hide the disturbed look on my face but the moment I sat down, J asked, "What???"


I whispered, "She looks wooden!" 


He whispered back, "I wouldn't know, I didn't look."


So, then I started to whine about how I wouldn't have looked if I didn't think he was going to look. Then in his best Rickey Ricardo voice, he whispered, "Baaaabe!" 


Wanting the last word, I said, "Well she did. Why is it that when people die, they just don't look like themselves anymore? I mean, she looked better when she was alive." Then, realizing what I had said, we both started to laugh.  It helped to lighten up a situation that was pretty heavy.



Recently, J had a horrible cough that the doctor diagnosed as bronchitis. He called from the doctor's office to tell me what the doctor said. What I heard was, "I have bigger problems. I'm bleeding from my boobies." (I have no idea why he would say that OR how I heard that from the very beginning.) I hung up the phone and went to Webmd.com and did a search for that symptom in males and it pointed to breast cancer. I couldn't breathe. I started pacing the floor, trying to figure out how to handle telling J that I had already diagnosed him. Finally, I called him and said, "So, how bad is the bleeding?" 


J said, "Huh?"


Me: "You know, your boobie bleeding."


J sighed and said, "Babe, I never said my boobies were bleeding. Where did you get an idea like that?"


I told him, "Never mind. I'm just relieved because I had already diagnosed it and it wasn't looking very good for you."


Once more, a heavy situation made light.


Just when I think that things can't get any harder to bear, I'm given a chance for the load that I'm carrying to be lightened. It's sorta like being in a long checkout line and another checkstand opens up and the checker points at me and says, "I'll take you next." Whew! That's what I'm talking about!!


Has your load been pretty heavy? Hoping you'll find ways to have it lightened up.

24 comments:

Mari said...

Oh Simone - I truly love coming here! You have once again shared something I needed to hear and given me a smile at the same time. :)

Brian Miller said...

i am glad you found a happy ending in each of those...bleeding boobies does not sound great at all...hope it keeps lightening...

Ina in Alaska said...

When my Aunt Bette died she looked terrible in her casket. In life she was very glamorous & fashionable. In her coffin they had her in a prim suit that she would not have picked out and her beautiful face - well - it was just not "her".

That was the day I decided to be cremated when I die.

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

I love that we can lighten up here....I need to....Loved the stories

Formerly known as Frau said...

Love this.....seems like there is always a light at the end of the tunnel it's just being patient enough to get there! Hope J is feeling better and I'm glad his boobies aren't bleeding! lol!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Posts like this help so many, Simone. You lightened my already light morning....okay, you cracked me up...semantics. :-)

MissKris said...

I don't know if I ever shared this with you in the past or not but it's worth the retelling. Several years ago I met a wonderful lady from Perth, Western Australia, on an international pen pal site. It had chat on it and we met there. Talk about someone carrying a heavy burden at that time...she was just leaving a very abusive marriage. We became instant and - so far - lifelong friends. Both of us tended to be 'fretters' and during one of our many chats she told me of an Irish friend who introduced her to the "99/1 Rule" for life. 99% of what we fret about NEVER comes to pass. The 1% that does...we face it, deal with it, and move on. I mean, WOW! What a lot of wisdom there, and so simple. So both my Aussie friend and I try to live by this and I can't tell you what a difference it's made for me. With that said, this was an excellent post, Simone...and I loved the photos you posted along with it. I'm not to the point where I'm homesick for the ocean yet...but I know my day will come! :-)

MissKris said...

And that is one of my all-time favorite Bible verses, too. And so, so true.

Linda Myers said...

I'm thinking she wasn't really there. The body does look wooden without the spirit.

My mother had made arrangements for my father, a career military officer, to be buried in his dress white uniform with all his medals. But in the chaos around the death, that detail was forgotten and the uniform wasn't delivered to the funeral home.

I asked the funeral home what he'd been buried in. The guy said, "In a white sheet."

The best laid plans...!

Sweet Tea said...

Simone, I'm you have had a lot of "heavy" things lately, and I'm really sorry that is the case. So thankful you and J have each other to share the load with. Isn't it great that God places wonderful people in our life to help us through these times? I hope "lighter" days are in the very close future for you...You are on my prayer list so I am faithfully "lifting you UP", GF!

Leslie Basil Payne said...

Oh my, but you have me laughing!!
Thank you for showing the lighter side. I think you just helped me with laughter to take the edge off of tonight's neck pain. Many thanks.

I know I've not been in touch, but you've been in my prayers daily. You are loved by many in Bloggerland and beyond.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Heeehehehe, girl...I'm still hung up on what J actually said for ya to hear 'bleedin' boobies'!!!

Yep, I fear as long as we take breath we're gonna get tossed smack in the middle of heavy situations. I'm so twisted, I can usually make light of such events...I think it's beats the heck outta cryin' and besides...it's good medicine!!!

Loved this post sweetie, it's something we all need to hear.

God bless and have yourself and excellent day!!! :o)

Jeanette Levellie said...

Next time I read your blog I'll be sure and not have a full bladder--I nearly peed my pants laughing!

So, what did he say besides the boobie bleeding?

Stacy said...

Thank goodness our God created humor to see us through times like these.

The passage you shared from The Message contains one of my favorite phrases ever..."the unforced rhythms of grace." That always washes over me like a soft breeze.

Have a blessed week, Simone!

Buckeroomama said...

Hahaha, that cracked me up! It's always wonderful to find humor in every situation. Bleeding boobies is very disturbing... glad you just misheard. :)

Liz Mays said...

Depending on the day, I definitely feel like my load is too heavy. Prayer helps a lot with that. Oh, sleep does too. :)

Relyn Lawson said...

It has been heavy, but He is always faithful!

Jenny said...

I think we never get more than we can carry...I like the way you look at life.

Jenny said...

I think we never get more than we can carry...I like the way you look at life.

David C Brown said...

The more grace we need the more we get!

Unknown said...

You and J are adorable. It's truly a blessing to have a partner who will lighten things up during rough times.
That's why I'm still falling in love with Big Daddy everyday.
I hope you and your husband will feel better very soon.

Veronica Lee said...

I love your checkout line analogy. The past few weeks have been pretty heavy for me too with my mom after her fall but He kept company with us and the moments were lightened.

Great post as always, Simone!

Anita said...

Lighten Up is a perfect title for what you've said.

The viewing scene is very funny. How do you go up to view the body with your eyes closed, or looking elsewhere. Wouldn't you sort of lose your footing. :)

I love the puppy pics.

Annesphamily said...

Hi Simone! I really love your blog! Your shares are amazing. I never look in caskets! It is a life long rule. I come from a Catholic phamily where they tend to take snapshots of the deceased! I closed my eyes when I had to walk past my mom and dad when each of them passed away! I prefer to remember them the way they were. Good thoughtful post today.

 

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