On a recent trip out of town we had three great choices of where to go out for breakfast. We ended up at the place I rarely get a chance to visit that has a country shop I love, yet I was still thinking maybe we were missing something better at the other possibilities. One place was highly recommended by my daughter’s boyfriend who eats there weekly, and the free hotel breakfast was also better than usual that day, so I was feeling rather tormented.
Normally, I would be ranting endlessly about how we should have chosen one of the other places because I am always seeking perfection, which is not possible this side of heaven. However, this time I actually made the conscious, mindful choice of just trying to be satisfied where I was. Satisfied that I was at this particular place in time, even though the menu choices weren’t overflowing with things I would have preferred. I decided to just enjoy the unseasonably warm day on the road and the time with my husband and the blessing that we were there, together. Not to mention it also spared my husband a lot of grief to not have to listen to my typical indecisive rant, setting a better tone for the rest of the day.
As it turned out, the pancakes I ordered were probably the best I ever ate! They were SO delicious! Crunchy, yet fluffy and moist!! I thought, wow, we ended up at the right place after all, and it was as if I was rewarded for my efforts to be content (which believe me, is no easy task!) My husband had tasted the pancakes off my plate and he loved them too and kept stealing bites! I even saved the leftovers and ate them later in the car. Turns out he bought a box of their special pancake mix to bring home but I bet they won’t taste as good as the ones we ate that warm, fall day.
And so it goes…….how to be mindful in the moment and satisfied that no matter what life brings we are supposed to be in that time and place, appreciating the little blessings in each day or accepting whatever difficulties come our way. I will see if I can keep this up and turn over a new leaf, as I write this while the autumn leaves are turning colors and falling.
Phillipians 2:14 “Do everything without grumbling or questioning,..”