A couple of weeks ago I was cleaning out our garage. I can say that I found some very interesting things. I made a huge pile of trash and another pile of items to donate - I was on a mission! About half way through the garage project, I felt a little pain in my hand. I removed my gloves and found a tiny splinter at the base of my right thumb on the inside crease of my hand. OUCH! WHAT A PAIN!
Of course the next thirty minutes or so I was trying to pick the splinter out. Before I could even attempt that, I had to find my glasses (that’s another adventure of its own)! Once I located them in the third place I looked, I focused on the splinter. At first I really thought I could get it out with my fingernails. However, it was lodged in my right hand and I am right handed, and my left hand fingers were not cooperating. I needed tweezers! Here again, I went to where I knew I had a pair and apparently I had used them and didn’t put them back in the spot in which they belonged - my mother taught me better! Finally after locating an extra pair in my travel kit, I was determined to remove the splinter!
I spent way too long on this issue. It was not working out. I kept trying anyway… you know when you mess with something so much you mess it up and it hurts worse? That was happening. Luckily, there was no infection and I guess I eventually got it - I could not even tell. All I knew was after a couple of days it didn’t hurt and I forgot about it!
This type of situation happens so much in our lives. We have a little inconvenience that ends up taking up way more of our time and effort than needed. We have become a world that makes a big deal out of things that are small. Jobs have been lost, relationships broken, dreams shattered because we fester and focus too much on things that can be easily worked out or waited on. Many of our “ life splinters” will get better and eventually go away. We get so caught up in the little pains in our lives that with time, if just left them alone, will work out for good.
Let’s quit making big deals of the small stuff and get back to cleaning out the garage -the BIG projects- the important stuff! Life is so precious and let’s make the best of it!
Keli’s Korner Challenge
Have you ever made a big deal out of something small that would have easily gone away if you left it alone? How can you help others not focus on the splinters in life?