I woke up the other morning realizing that, while my to-do list was quite full, there was nothing on it that posed a dire emergency, nor was there anything that left me feeling overwhelmed and incapable. That was such a change from the previous few months that I had to stop and breathe a sigh of relief. As I talked to God that morning, I prayed for others on my heart, but not for myself. In fact, I had the utter audacity to tell him that, for once, I had everything under control.

You’d think I would know better.

Thankfully, God was in a good mood. He could have immediately created all sorts of difficulties, but instead I got the distinct impression that he was laughing at me. “Oh, really?” He asked.

And then I was flooded with all sorts of reasons that I needed prayer more than ever that day. Let me give you a sampling. He told me to pray that…

• I wouldn’t get angry and curse the idiot distracted, upset driver who was going to cut me off on road in an hour.
• I would be able to wait patiently for my turn with the overworked clerk at the post office, and then give my frustration to God and explain kindly that our new street did in fact exist, and our new address was on it.
• I would have the endurance to cheerfully pack yet another box or twenty, all in a house I had thought was completely packed. After all, I was packing blessings, right?
• I would respond graciously to the many requests for my time and energy in my other volunteer roles, yet have the fortitude to say “no” when asked to overextend myself.
• I would continue to be thankful and appreciate our temporary housing, even though they don’t do things the way I do, and my way is much, much better (of course).

And that’s just the beginning. Apparently, I still needed God working through me moment by moment, because I’m far, far less than perfect. Even after all these years of improvement. Geesh.

And as I got in the car and headed off to run my first errand, I was able to forgive and pray for the jerk burdened person who decided that two inches was plenty of allowance between cars. God was already answering my morning’s prayers!