My hubby was wanting to leave the house for our trip EARLY! It was still dark, and I felt rushed! As I snatched the bottle off my night table it slipped from my hands and rolled under the bed. I had to get flat on the floor and scoot underneath the bed to retrieve it. There would be many more of these “inconveniences.” The crowds, pain and discomfort from ailments, misunderstandings, money wasted on something that didn’t turn out for the hype, and not able to navigate the park in the dark, are just a sampling! Welcome! to Dollywood! It had been years since we had entered through those gates and at that time with children, and now as “empty nesters.” Memories of days gone by and all the many inconveniences that children add; I had certainly let them get the best of me.

But, that morning, when the bottle slipped from my hands rolling so far under my bed I could not comfortably reach it, I chuckled! I was releasing some stress from the busyness of packing, getting up at an “ungodly” hour to leave, wishing I was 10 years younger (why not make that 20 if I’m going to waste a wish 😉), the list could go on and on.

Life is so full of inconveniences. But they are just that, inconvenient, and nothing more!

Treasuring what God wants us to treasure will help us view inconveniences in a healthy way.

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Matthew 6, NLT

What is it we treasure? Everything running smoothly, perfection, money, and worldly pleasures? When God is our treasure, we can chuckle at the inconveniences of life and breathe in more stress-less days without worry:

Always be full of joy IN THE LORD. I say it again – rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. REMEMBER, THE LORD IS COMING SOON. Don’t worry about anything.

Ephesians 4:4-6a

• When our joy revolves around the Lord and all He has done for us, all He has waiting for us, all He is to us, inconveniences will not have the power to disturb our day. “Rejoicing” allows no room for complaining, besides.

• “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do”! WOW! that’s another mouthful; we are “careful not to cause inconvenience or hurt to others” (Definition from Oxford Languages). We are more concerned with others than ourselves. That sounds familiar 😉 (Philippians 2:3).

• Why? “The Lord is coming soon!” So, there’s no need to worry!!! The Lord will be here before you know it!

We have so much to give thanks for!

Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is…. Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

Psalm 66:1-2, 16-20