The Importance of Being. . .
Unimportant
Not exactly what you were expecting, was it? I bet you were thinking Ernest, right?
Well, I am going to try to express my thought with out getting too preachy. Not only that, but just this thought in itself flies in the face of what it means to be a citizen of the free world, doesn't it? Ultimately, it goes against human nature altogether. Ahhh, this is where I started catching on. The importance of being unimportant.... Cue the sappy music:
Story time: I was in a beautiful store (it will remain unnamed) in a quaint old down town. The structure itself was red brick and about a century old, the store was a trendy boutique with many beautiful wares and accoutrements. I was simply amazed at the sights, aromas and the beautiful melody wafting around my head. As I carried on a conversation with the proprietor, she told me of her journey from one career to another to where she was now: a very successful entrepreneur. She told of her fine line of soaps, lotions, and candles that were contracted and scheduled to be packaged and sold hot off the conveyor belt.
I have to confess to feeling a wee bit of envy. Okay - I was seriously fighting off the ugly, green jealousy monster in me. Her phone rings, she answers it and speaks in a merry tone. I busy myself, nosing about the jewelry and dishware. Soon I noticed that she was speaking in more of a hushed tone. Oddly enough, I was still within earshot and heard her part of the conversation. Apparently, it was her husband and he was calling with a request: could she please go by and pick up their dog from the vet's. There was no way he could do it, there was no way she could do it. Her reasons: 1.) she was the only one there to watch the store which did not close for two more hours, 2.) So n' So is expecting her to drop off such and so chair after the store does close, and 3.) Miss Such and Such is meeting with her about a contract. On top of all of that, she has her second grade son in tow, recently retrieved from school. (I have to say, her son and my son got along famously).
As I listened, (not meaning too - it was a smallish store) I did take note that her soft and sweet tone morphed into a testy, defensive one. Upon the conclusion of this conversation, she turned syrupy sweet when asked a question by another patron. Within moments, her little boy ran up to her and tried getting her attention. When he did, he explained that something had scared him. Before all the words had left his lips, she said that he was a big boy and needed to handle it himself. She said that whatever it was, he would have to be the one to deal with it. She said all of this with out even looking at him. She talked at him somewhat over her shoulder as she repaired a display. My admiration of her position declined rapidly.
I am still amazed at her talent and creativity and I think she is a beautiful person with a unique and wonderful personality. It was her self imposed position of importance I no longer envy. The look of disappointment on her little boy's face was very sobering.
I have recently been "regrouping". Doing the things in my home I did not have time or patience for during the school year. Aunt Susie called this "digging out". I have already made one trip to the paper recycling bin and am about ready to make another. As I flipped through one of my "To Do" Spirals I came across something I jotted down in the midst of my busy-ness.
Not exactly what you were expecting, was it? I bet you were thinking Ernest, right?
Well, I am going to try to express my thought with out getting too preachy. Not only that, but just this thought in itself flies in the face of what it means to be a citizen of the free world, doesn't it? Ultimately, it goes against human nature altogether. Ahhh, this is where I started catching on. The importance of being unimportant.... Cue the sappy music:
Story time: I was in a beautiful store (it will remain unnamed) in a quaint old down town. The structure itself was red brick and about a century old, the store was a trendy boutique with many beautiful wares and accoutrements. I was simply amazed at the sights, aromas and the beautiful melody wafting around my head. As I carried on a conversation with the proprietor, she told me of her journey from one career to another to where she was now: a very successful entrepreneur. She told of her fine line of soaps, lotions, and candles that were contracted and scheduled to be packaged and sold hot off the conveyor belt.
I have to confess to feeling a wee bit of envy. Okay - I was seriously fighting off the ugly, green jealousy monster in me. Her phone rings, she answers it and speaks in a merry tone. I busy myself, nosing about the jewelry and dishware. Soon I noticed that she was speaking in more of a hushed tone. Oddly enough, I was still within earshot and heard her part of the conversation. Apparently, it was her husband and he was calling with a request: could she please go by and pick up their dog from the vet's. There was no way he could do it, there was no way she could do it. Her reasons: 1.) she was the only one there to watch the store which did not close for two more hours, 2.) So n' So is expecting her to drop off such and so chair after the store does close, and 3.) Miss Such and Such is meeting with her about a contract. On top of all of that, she has her second grade son in tow, recently retrieved from school. (I have to say, her son and my son got along famously).
As I listened, (not meaning too - it was a smallish store) I did take note that her soft and sweet tone morphed into a testy, defensive one. Upon the conclusion of this conversation, she turned syrupy sweet when asked a question by another patron. Within moments, her little boy ran up to her and tried getting her attention. When he did, he explained that something had scared him. Before all the words had left his lips, she said that he was a big boy and needed to handle it himself. She said that whatever it was, he would have to be the one to deal with it. She said all of this with out even looking at him. She talked at him somewhat over her shoulder as she repaired a display. My admiration of her position declined rapidly.
I am still amazed at her talent and creativity and I think she is a beautiful person with a unique and wonderful personality. It was her self imposed position of importance I no longer envy. The look of disappointment on her little boy's face was very sobering.
I have recently been "regrouping". Doing the things in my home I did not have time or patience for during the school year. Aunt Susie called this "digging out". I have already made one trip to the paper recycling bin and am about ready to make another. As I flipped through one of my "To Do" Spirals I came across something I jotted down in the midst of my busy-ness.
My position as a wife and mother are the most
important roles I will ever play.
If I fail here, then I will have failed at
my life's work and will have missed
God's perfect plan.
Bottom line: Because I choose not to be in positions of importance outside my home, I am better able to fulfill the roles I do have which are the most important. Because I serve my husband and kids now, I hope they will be able to better serve others in their lives.
im·por·tant [adjective] :
1: marked by or indicative of significant worth or consequence : valuable in content or relationship
2: giving evidence of a feeling of self-importance
3: urgent
