My eyes pop open. I turn to look at the clock. Immediately, I sit up, heart pounding within me.
Oh, no. No. No no no no no no.
A sense of dread fills me up to the core.
My alarm didn’t go off. I’m supposed to be at work right now!
I fly out of bed, ripping my brush through my hair, splashing cold water on my face, looking haggard. I don’t have time to shower or put on makeup, and I throw on yesterday’s clothes.
“I’m sorry!” I text my boss. “I’m sorry, I’m coming, I’m sorry!”
I grab my purse and my keys, shifting the gears in my car as fast as it’ll let me. I drive like the mad woman I feel I am. The cars in front of me, of course, are going far below the speed limit.
“C’mon,” I mutter, impatiently dancing my fingertips along the steering wheel.
I glance at the clock on my dash. By my estimate, I’ll be at least forty-five minutes late, if not more.
It’s Monday — undoubtedly the worst day of the week. Sleeping through my alarm has proven this fact to be true. I mentally go through all of the tasks I need to complete today. This one mistake has ruined everything. My whole day is shot. Scratch that. My whole week has gone entirely down the drain.
On the half-hour trip to work, I imagine running into the office, frazzled and unkempt. I rub the sleep out of my eyes. I wish I had put on blush, and feel slightly grateful that half of my mascara is still on from last night.
I think of how everything is ruined now. Starting my day and week off on the wrong foot means that everything will seem harder and less thought through. I am hungry from not eating breakfast, and I wish a coffee would appear in my hand.
Suddenly, without warning, I have a new thought: I don’t want to be frazzled. I don’t want to be stressed.
“Your mercies are new every morning,” I speak out loud.
I imagine — in this very moment — starting over again. I imagine that this morning hadn’t happened the way it did. I take six deep breaths. I choose to reset. I choose to inhale God’s brand new mercies.
“Your mercies are new every morning,” I repeat. “Every moment. Even in this moment, and in the next moment after that.”
I arrive at the office forty-five minutes late. My boss is gracious, showing me mercy in a tangible way. I choose God’s mercy when I’m late to work, and when my heart is shattered, and when nothing seems to go my way.
I could choose stress and worry and feeling utterly frazzled.
Or I could breathe and choose mercy.
I’m grateful for what I chose today.
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Aliza,
God so freely offers mercy, but how often do we choose to accept it? I’m much like you – ready to call the day, the week, forever a disaster at one slip up. Thank you for this tangible reminder that God’s not keeping score…in fact just the opposite. I think He would tell us to go easy on ourselves. We are His. Nothing will ever change that. Choose mercy and inhale His love.
Happy 4th to you and blessings,
Bev xx
Aliza Latta says
I think he would tell us to go easy on ourselves too. Thanks for that, Bev.
Michele Morin says
I love that you chose to take mercy and run with it!
It occurred to me as I was reading that often when I am frazzled and upset over a mistake I’ve made, it’s pride that’s in the driver’s seat: “How could I have done this? I’m so much more competent than this.”
So much better just to own the mis-step, make it right, and move on with as little fuss as possible, taking grace from the God who “knows our frame and remembers that we are dust.”
Blessed Monday to you, Aliza! Hope your Canada Day celebration was terrific!
Aliza Latta says
Yes! I 100% agree with you that it’s most likely pride in the driver’s seat. Thanks so much, Michele. Canada Day was lovely!
Beth Williams says
Aliza,
One mistake-even little ones puts me in a funk. I feel like well it’s over now-how could I be so dumb as to do that. Yet God in His infinite grace extends mercy to us. He says get up go on try again. He knows no one is perfect. Proud of you for not acting “frazzled” all day and accepting His mercies. I would have been more frazzled & not even thought about God’s mercies. Pray you had a great Canada Day!
Blessings 🙂
Aliza Latta says
I know, we beat ourselves up, don’t we? I’m so grateful we get to try again. I had a wonderful Canada Day — Happy 4th to you!
Jas says
Aliza,
What a lovely reminder to inhale Gods mercies. I too have been the same when late everything seems to go wrong in the day from there on in! Glad you were able to put a positive spin on it and choose God and recognise his mercies are new each moment definitely going to try this! X
Aliza Latta says
Thanks so much, Jas!
Jacklin Drake says
Our words and thoughts are so powerful! We can determine how the rest of our day will go by deciding to be positive and humble instead of frustrated and frazzled. Attitudes are contagious. Walking in with a bad attitude can rubb off on co-workers and cause agrivation and tension through out the office. Great article Aliza!
Aliza Latta says
You’re right — attitudes are contagious. Thanks for that reminder, Jacklin.
Me says
Thank you did this! It’s a Monday morning and my chronic fatigue has flared up. I determined that with God’s help I will be a sweet mom today and we will get some work done. And then this timely reminder/confirmation that with God’s help it indeed is a good morning to get back on track:) …. with God’s help I will focus on Him and His strength today! And we will have a lovely day and week with Jesus! 🙂
Aliza Latta says
I hope your day was filled with God’s mercies! And that you’ll see them tomorrow and the rest of this week, too.
Anna Smit says
This made me think of the verses:
So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11 | NIV
and
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
John 7: 38 NIV
I love how the LORD protects and guards our hearts and then pours out His refreshing truth precisely in and through our struggles. What a stunning God we serve. Thank you for this beautiful encouragement and reminder of how near He is.
Aliza Latta says
Thanks for sharing those verses with me, Anna!
Tina says
I’ve done this but I would call myself names and condemn myself not just on my way to work but for the whole week. If anything else bad happened I would think that it was my fault because i started my work week off bad. But I wasnt on the path that I am in now. I really wish I was. God’s grace and mercies are everything and it is meant for when we are wrong or make mistakes not when we are perfect. What’s the point of needing His grace and mercy if we are perfect. Thank God that I realize that I am on the journey of being perfected.
Aliza Latta says
It’s so easy to choose condemnation over grace. I’m not sure why we always tend to lean that way first. But thank God for his mercy. I hope you recognized his mercies in your life today, Tina!
Brenda says
How often do we forget we have a choice? I know it’s way too often for me. Thanks for this sweet reminder to reset in the moment and choose calm. This reminded me of a day a few months back when I woke up frantic, went into my son’s room jarring him awake, ran down the hall to my husband’s office saying “It’s 6:50!” — Turns out, it was Saturday. Woops. 🙂 I felt bad for turning our Saturday morning into a Monday morning, but like your boss, they were merciful. 🙂
Aliza Latta says
Haha! That is too funny. I’m glad they were merciful 🙂
Sasha says
Good post!
Aliza Latta says
Thanks, Sasha!
Danielle Bernock says
Love this article. It’s so easy to beat ourselves up. I’ve done it plenty. (Even wrote an article on it like you did but have a different scripture the Lord gave me.) It’s so important to give ourselves grace. I love the scripture you used too – His mercies are new every morning. Indeed they are. Thank you for sharing this!
Aliza Latta says
Thank you so much, Danielle.
Kathy Cheek, Devotions from the Heart says
I let waiting for a repairman frazzle me today, need that mercy for sure! It frazzled me because it upset my scheduled plans, but God had different plans. I ended up having a great time of brainstorming ideas on paper, that I would not have had if the repairman had arrived earlier and I had been able to get out and do the other things I had planned away from home.
Aliza Latta says
How cool is it that you were able to recognize God’s mercies in your life in such a tangible way. I love that, Kathy!
Rebecca L Jones says
I know the sleep look. Exhausted, I fell asleep one Tuesday evening at 5 and woke up about 8, thinking it was Sunday night. I remember saying it’s Tuesday? The days run together sometimes so it is important to breathe and rest, and not be frazzled. Happy Canada Day!
Aliza Latta says
You’re very right. I was exhausted from doing too much, and it was a reminder that I need to take rest. Thanks, Rebecca!
RebeccaLynn says
So very true! Our attitude so oftentimes dictates our gratitude! Praise God for His living, breathing word – which, if we’ve taken time to read, can seep deep into our hearts and come bursting forth when we need it most. His mercies certainly ARE new, and abundant!
Aliza Latta says
You’re absolutely right. Thanks RebeccaLynn!