This morning, my back hurts. Plus, my heart is heavy. God opened my heart and eyes this morning.
At 11:30 pm Sunday night, my alarm blared and my head hurt. I grumbled out of bed and put on the work clothes. I at cereal and took some Advil in hopes to ward off this bad headache. By 11:55, my attitude was not the example I wanted to portray in front of my daughter. I had a serious case of “Don’t Want to’s.” I did not want to get up in the middle of the night. I did not want to pick up trash at the river after the big weekend celebration know as Riverfest. I did not want to touch anything gross. I did not want to do it. Don’t want to! Don’t want to! Don’t want to! I sounded like a 2 year old.
On our way there, we heard of a shooting that had just occurred. Don’t want to! Instead of praying for the situation, I grumbled. Instead of hoping for the best, I grouched. It wasn’t pleasant. But, we got there and it was time to go to work. My head pounded. The smell of the place made the zoo smell refreshing. It was nasty! The amount of trash was sickening. The “Don’t Want To’s” were flying out of my mouth. The blood rushing to my headache every time I bent over to pick up someone’s trash made matters and my attitude worse. I fussed. I grumbled. And finally, I saw spots and got sick. Praise God, I had a trash bag on hand!
As the amount of nasty trash increased, so did my bad attitude. I had my fill of picking up turkey leg carcasses, dirty diapers, and cigarette butts… not to mention the amount of alcoholic beverage containers. Nasty! Gross! My stomach is turning right now at the memory of it. I can’t believe how nasty people can be!
As if things couldn’t get worse….
I was helping empty trash cans. One didn’t have a liner. So we took an empty can and lined it with my trash bag. I was holding it around the can as two men dumped the unlined one. Oh! What came out of that can! (picture me right now with a sour pinched nose face) BLECH!!! Next thing I know something is crawling up my arm and up under my sleeve. I jumped back and screamed. My arms flailed and out came a water roach.
I run. I scream. I am through! YUCK! GROSS!
I told my friend this. her response, “What is it with you and creatures??” She’s got a point!
Anyway, my bad attitude had evolved into a BAD attitude. I made BA on the A-Team look like a mouse. I yelled. I belly-ached. It was so not like me! I wasn’t alone. I heard lots of adults at 5 am with the same kind of attitude. And it passed along to the kids. By 8 am, no one was nice. It was sad…
Even after coming home, taking a much needed shower, and sleeping, my attitude was still the same. B.A.D.
Then last night, I prayed for forgiveness. I prayed that I would learn from this experience. I prayed that I would be thankful and have gratitude for the job I hated to do. I thought if anything could make this experience good.. it had to be God.
God reminded me of the ugly side of me. He reminded me that it wasn’t pretty nor to be seen. He provoked me into thinking that perhaps my attitude and the others in our group towards leaving a cup behind at the movies or a concert needs to change. He tapped me on the shoulder and told me that it was time to ask those around to witness my meltdown for forgiveness. He thoughtfully explained that littering (not that I do it) is a campaign we all need to change. He showed me that maybe those young people in our group may have decided on a career path (Garbage collecting or not). He reminded me that my sore muscles and back pain may not be the trashes fault to my own for not exercising more.
My bad attitude has softened. I now just praise God that no one was hurt and that our hard work was for the greater good. Next year, if we do this again, I will sleep more before going. God has shown me that I need sleep to be pleasant.
Hope you have a great day! God bless..
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