I am sorry to all my fans that it has been a while since my last post.
The last few days has been a whirlwind!
I can’t really remember what I did except try to recover from this blasted cold!
So I have been thinking about a part in a book I just recently read for book club. It is Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson. It is a bit cheesy but there is a part about the lesson of the five balls that I really liked. It goes like this: “Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you’re keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls- family, health, friends, integrity- are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.”
I am so blessed to be surrounded by good friends and family. But I did something today that I have never done-not show up for a shift at work. It really was a mistake on the doctor who scheduled me. I told him that I had no one to watch my kids for so long of a period and Joseph is sick with this bad cold. I couldn’t send him away in that condition to somebody else’s house. I feel good that I made my family first on this problem but what I can’t figure out is why I feel so guilty for not going to work to fill a shift I wasn’t even supposed to have. Why do I have to keep telling myself that my family come fist when I already know that? I am thankful that Matt has a great job so that I can stay at home and be with my children because this is where I am needed most. Any ideas on how to clear my guilty conscience that shouldn’t be guilty? I have found myself struggling with this type of guilt in different areas of my life, not just with work. I never want to make anyone feel uncomfortable even if it means causing me to be in a difficult spot. My sister in law once told me that I need to go down to the back store and pick me up a backbone! Can someone tell me where that store is!?
5 comments:
Since I work as well, I can really relate. I have called in sick to work once, and I really was sick, but I felt soooo bad. And then one other time I came home for lunch and didn't go back because Linc had to go to work.
I think you must have good work ethic, and you know that you not coming in makes someone else's job hard. In my opinion, having good work ethic should not be taken lightly as I think this is something that is lacking with a lot of the workforce these days. You may feel guilty, but think how much more guilt you would have felt leaving Joseph while in his sick state.
I try to look at my schedule right when it comes out and 'fix' anything that is wrong right away so it isn't a surprise to them the day of. They know when you are available, so it is on them when they ignore that. You can only do what you can do. But if you ever need help with your kids during the day, I am more than willing to help you out :)
Thanks for posting the lesson of the 5 balls. I really liked that part of the book as well.
I can relate to the guilt plague. It is a hard thing to overcome. I agree with Hannah that it is a good thing to have a good work ethic because not many people do now days. I think that you should be proud of yourself for making the choice to stay at home. Also, your boss knows you, and I'm sure that you have already proved yourself to him and he knows that you are responsible and honest. Do you think that your boss is stewing about this as much as you are? My guess would be no. And if the answer is yes, you should find a new boss who knows the lesson of the 5 balls!
Thanks for posting the lesson of the 5 balls. I really liked that part of the book as well.
I can relate to the guilt plague. It is a hard thing to overcome. I agree with Hannah that it is a good thing to have a good work ethic because not many people do now days. I think that you should be proud of yourself for making the choice to stay at home. Also, your boss knows you, and I'm sure that you have already proved yourself to him and he knows that you are responsible and honest. Do you think that your boss is stewing about this as much as you are? My guess would be no. And if the answer is yes, you should find a new boss who knows the lesson of the 5 balls!
Sorry, I have no idea why that comment posted twice! I must've double clicked or something.
I love this post. I'm not sure why we are so prone to feeling guilty. But I do know that feeling guilt when we haven't done anything to feel guilty about is not what our Heavenly Father would want us to waste our energy on. I like your mom's advice -- focus on what's really important. Great lesson.
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