Little things

How do you react when someone pulls out in front of you? How about when a last-minute practice is scheduled and you don't like having your schedule changed? or How about when you are just having a bad day in general? Why am I asking these question? Actually, I've been asking myself these same questions for a couple days now and I didn't really like the answers.

It all started the other day, when I was tired all day and still trying to get over this crazy cold. It had been a long day and as I was fixing my son a cup of juice and I knocked a Corelle plate in the floor. It shattered into a million pieces--all over my carpeted kitchen floor. Needless to say, I didn't show a very Christ-like attitude! I told everyone to get out of the kitchen and just stay out while I cleaned up yet another mess of the day. Later, while helping my daughter do her homework, a light bulb went off. I realized that I wasn't setting a very good example for my kids with my actions. I can handle the "big" stuff and show faith & a Christ-like attitude pretty easily. But I have a real problem with the little things. I tend to speak first and it usually gets me into trouble. I don't like my schedule changed and tend to want things to always go my way. Why do I get so caught up in the little things and let them control my attitude for the day?

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a very impatient driver (don't laugh honey!). I cannot stand to get behind a slow driver and my husband has threatened to disconnect my horn from my car on several occasions! I want to set a good example for my kids so when they have a bad day, they can see through my example how they should react. Wow, that means I have a lot of work ahead of me! But I'm going to just take it one minute at a time!!

Does anyone have any advice on how to do this? It's so hard to change and not react immediately. Maybe I'll start counting to ten and praying first.