Yesterday, behind the wheel of my car I let my emotions get a little “whacked” and forgot that the other motorist may be enduring something exceptionally hard in their life at this time. Giving seemingly stupid driver’s the benefit of the doubt isn’t usually what my mind is thinking. However, letting my soul drive and not my mind is taking the high road for this recovering “temper tootsie.” I had dropped Hubs off, to run into a store for a quick minute, and then circled around the parking lot, to then pick him up as he exited the building. When I saw him coming out, I was approaching the crosswalk and this excited me! to be in the right place at the right time….for once!! There were other people needing to cross as well, when the driver behind me obviously impaired and impatient from enduring his hard time in life, bolted out from behind passing me. Thank God! he saw the pedestrians crossing that I had courteously stopped for, and didn’t run them over. With my window up, I shook my finger (pointer finger) at him and in a semi quiet tone I said “see there butthead, I stopped at the crosswalk for pedestrians!” As Hubs entered the car, hearing me.. he chuckled. Well… I am… making progress on this emotional journey, I didn’t yell, I didn’t use my middle finger, I didn’t curse and I didn’t get out of my car and bang on his window, nor did I chase him down in my car!! Winner winner chicken dinner!!

I was already on a roll because earlier at dinner Hubs told me some upsetting news, regarding the city cutting/messing with his police retirement! He has two years left before he gets out of that place. My mind immediately thought about how hard he has worked, how much he/we have sacrificed for this poorly managed city and police department. So to speak, I was beginning to “loose control and hit a pedestrian” just thinking about what we could do to retaliate, when my heart/soul spoke and said “take the high road.” I slowed my breathing, gave up a prayer to the only person who has control and told Hubs we should be praying that the worst doesn’t happen. Hubs however took the low road, and hit a pothole with his return comment. Whew! it’s all I can do to keep a grip on my own emotional steering wheel, so I just hope that I can lead by example here or he will be lost….and we know men never ask for directions! Bless their hearts!

The “stuff” that happens in life can be seen as road block’s, detour’s and pot hole’s, as we travel through. It happens to us all, and it’s up to us who drives. It is easy to let our minds steer, when clearly our soul should really take the wheel?

Join me today as we encounter rough times/roads, and keep our emotions under control while we keep a firm grip on that steering wheel.

“Lord, we know that we can control ourselves and not others, so we leave them safely in your hands as we travel through life. Help us keep it between the lines, always on the high road, so that we may finish the race well. In Jesus precious name Amen.”