Fence Mending AGAIN!

 Fence Mending AGAIN!

 

Was standing on the deck looking out at my hens in the east lots when it became apparent that Thompson was NOT inside the fenced area. Dadgumitall! That dog can find places that are no bigger than a rabbit and go right through the fence. Took about 25 feet of chicken wire down there and worked until it seemed relatively “hole” free. Got soppy wet from working on my knees and sweating profusely. Had to take my glasses off and slip ‘em inside a pocket on the side of these pants. Just LOVE cargo pants with all the pockets along the legs. Anyway, may have to go pick up some more chicken wire to work on the road side of the east lots, but need to go to Sutherlands anyway for more of that purple stuff to put on the plumbing pipes.

 

Roger told me the other day that they tore down Mrs. Pitts house up the street from Mom and Dad’s place. Of course, seems someone has already built a house where the old garden was next to her house. But when they tore her house down, they left the great big slab of concrete where Jeanene Wilson and the old woman used to play with tennis balls. Mrs. Pitts was so sweet about letting us play out there on her porch. Know she did not get along with just anyone, so it was nice that she was so good to us.

 

Yesterday when Stephen was here to bring the wagon handle back, it occurred to me that God had truly blessed me when my life led to two especially difficult traumas. Some of the problems involved the loss of a child before she could ever come home from the hospital, but the other was out and out PTSD from witnessing my child’s death. Even so, both situations were not “ongoing” traumas in the sense that they were not repeated events like dealing with spiteful family or other situations over which no one has control. When we deal with other people and their problems, the only true control we have is how we let their problems affect us. OUR reaction is central to that kind of problem.

 

When the old woman left home to stay with Jennifer and her family, it felt as if the work that was needed to regain my emotional balance was pretty much my own problem. So, some research on the internet helped with descriptions of “cognitive behavioral therapy.” The idea is that we look carefully at how things are affecting us and how we can develop a different perspective on the problems. Let me tell you: it ain’t easy. But it is a step toward a solution to panic attacks, deep depression, and dealing with flash backs. We cannot change the past. But we can reframe the problems with fewer instances of feeling as if we should have, could have, might have done something differently. Life is not our fault. Our perspective is not always easy to change or evaluate for clarity and veracity. And nothing happens quickly when pain is involved.

 

Meanwhile, we are promised that in God’s kingdom things will have changed: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:4 Praise God!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.