Lessons in Life

I've had the adventure in "learning the lesson" lately. 
A few weeks ago one of the lessons in our Bible Study spoke on how we act or react to a situation.
She went on the give an example of how sometimes we whine at "that always happens to me".  Told of how you get your toast buttered  or spread the mayonaise on and then drop the bread and it lands face down.  Good visual and we have all "been there, done that".  A few days later I got out a cracker, spread on some cream cheese (low fat cream cheese) and sure enough I dropped it "face down" and with all the critters in this house, it was definitely "lost".  As I bent over to pick it up, the visual lesson came clearly in sight and yes, I just laughed.  I wasn't going to let that overcome my "joy in the Lord". 
A few days later, however, while checking out thru the express lane at the grocery store and quite pleased at my $24 savings on sale items, my "joy" was stolen.......or should I say, my $20 was stolen.  I had requested $20 back on my debit card.  I loaded my bags, picked up my receipt and hurried out the door.  Just minutes later, while driving home I remembered my $20.  I had forgot to retrieve it in my haste.  I promptly called the store ( I know their # by memory) and asked to check the stand I had just gone thru.......well, it was gone, no one had turned it in.  I was instantly "blown a gasket" out of control, not with the person on the line, but when I hung up, I was "blown up"....my little "joy of the Lord" was no where to be found.  I tried ever which was to persuade God that I had always returned any money that I had found there, etc, etc.... you know the routine.  I continued home, put away my now only "$4.00 savings on groceries, did some more mumbling and foot stomping.........and then........the lesson or "reacting" to such situations.
I had some confessing to do and some repenting.  I was still wounded but knew I needed to "get over it" and get back into my day.  As I headed back to town I was determined to "let go and let God", so although not so melodious, I chose to sing praises as I drove to my next clients'....yes I did find that "joy" of the Lord once again and relinquished the $20 as the cost of my lesson that day.

This is only the beginning of the "Lessons in Life".  Part 2 Tomorrow.