Life Lessons

There are two things I have learned from my experience in pageants.

1. Bitterness
Bitter can be defined as "hard to bear, grievous or hard to accept." I've learned that this is very common ground for beauty queens. Hostile feelings towards the girls who have done well when you haven't or the girls who win and "didn't deserve to."
I was at a popular store, in my home state, shopping for my pageant and was discussing the recent Miss USA events with the salesgirl. She made it very clear that she had a strong dislike for the girl who represented our state this year at the pageant. I came across similar stories on facebook involving status updates and tweets on Twitter. "So glad the RIGHT girl won." and so on. It makes me wonder why? Why is it so hard to be happy for others at our own expense?

I know, because I have been there. So bitter about the outcome of the pageant, that I wasn't able to have a civilized conversation about it. My blood boiled watching Miss America that year and I can honestly say that I was smug about how things went down.

My actions and behavior were so disgraceful.

Bitterness leaves holes in the soul. A hole that I believe only time and prayer can fill. I am thankful for a God who knows my hurts and weaknesses. I am humbled daily by his grace and the fact that I don't even deserve to show my face considering how I acted behind the scenes. Even though everyone else couldn't see it, God could.

2. Complaining
This is something I struggle with daily. Always wondering why we don't get what we want when we want it. I am one who certainly hates to be told "no."

I was sitting through the orientation for my fall semester of nursing school the other day listening to my classmates whine and complain about everything. "why aren't our books available?" "when are we going to get our schedule?" "what if I can't do clinical on Friday?!" "I have two kids and a husband, how am I going to do all this?!"

I wanted to scream, "SHUT UP!"
I feel lucky just to be here. Why do we have to demand things from our teachers from the get go? Where is it going to get you? No where, that's where.

My goal in any situation these days is to first, stay calm. Choose your words wisely and address the situation with grace. My devotion this morning was about the very subject and it states:

Sometimes God withholds a "yes" knowing we need to be prepared to receive His goodness in His time. Other times, when we've been told "no" due to our own bad choices or those of others, God withholds a "yes" to teach us something. Or it's a permanent "no" to protect us. Whichever way, God is always working things together for the good of those who love Him.

I am so grateful for these experiences. Thankful that I was able to learn very valuable lessons about myself and thankful that maybe one day I can teach these lessons to a daughter of my own.