Facing Your Dilemmas

Here it is, Spring Break on the Island, and I have dilemmas. I shouldn't have...spring break is to enjoy the sun and have fun with friends. Except they all either went out of town or are working. So what do you do?

I thought about razzing my friend about being so technically challenged that she can't even hang on to her phone, or how her daughter had to show her how to listen to her voicemail on her smart phone, or that she has a failing memory about techno things, but I didn't. My dilemma was that she was born that way and can't help herself. I was also reminded that she would find a way to pay me back, in spades! She may be a true southern lady, but she can "venge" with the best of them and enjoy every moment. So Deb, you are safe - for now!

I thought about going to visit my family out of town, but they were either all sick or so far away I couldn't afford the gasoline costs. Another dilemma.

Then I thought that I might use this time off from substituting to find a full time job, but I was reminded of still another dilemma. What new company would want to give me the time off if it turns out I do actually need the additional surgery I am halfway anticipating, or give me the time off each month to follow up on my lap-band progress.

Sooo, I did what I have been wanting to do for a long time. Tackle my closet. It has been full of dilemmas for several years.You see, it talked me into saving all my too-small clothes. I told my sister-in-law that I had all my clothes in one spot, and in several sizes and colors. I am not, as she suspects, a clothes horse. I simply convinced myself that sooner or later I would lose the weight and be able to get back into some of them. Of course, some of them are woefully out of date, but hey, if she thinks MY closet is over full, she better not look into Martha's....

I went through every closet and drawer. Everything that was too big (and I am happy to report there was an awful lot of that!) and all winter things that fit me now but wouldn't next winter were merrily thrown onto my bed. Then came another one of those dilemmas: what do I do with it all?

I sorted into business versus casual stuff, then sorted in to good, fair, and rag bin. That took a while. I even called a couple of women's organizations to see if they wanted any of the business clothing to help out women who are starting over and going back to work. But they didn't, instead preferring to give out Goodwill vouchers. Dilemma solved. Everything went into bags to take to Goodwill tomorrow. I had already sorted out and downsized my purse collection, and shoes will be next. I have to admit it was invigorating to see the pile. Of course, I will now have to continue working to buy new ones!

We face dilemmas every day. Some are big, most not very important. Do I wear this or that? Should I pay this bill today or wait til next week? Eat this or that? Can I afford just one more bite? Will that one piece of cake hurt that much? How can I get my book out to a bigger audience and into bookstores? Little things. Sometimes those pesky dilemmas can be more fretful. Do I leave my family and friends behind to take that new job out of state? Who is going to care for my aging family? How can I make ends meet when the bills just keep piling up?

Imagine the dilemmas the good people of Japan face. Where do I go? Where can I get food? Is my son, or my daughter, or my mother still alive? What do I do now? Who is here to help me? Am I far enough away? Will this shaking and fear ever stop?

It makes my drop-in-the-bucket dilemmas seem petty.

If I have learned one thing in my 60 years, is that sooner or later God provides you with either the means  or the path to take. Life, just like eating habits, are all about choices. Don't turn them into dilemmas; make them opportunities.

And let Him help you make the choices clear. You will be all right, and much happier without the worry.

Have a good week!