A Sabbath Day Miracle

I am beginning to wonder if I will ever like church again. I will have a week here and there where I walk away thinking that it was a good and well spent 3 hours but for the most part I would rather put my head in a vice and tighten it till I see spots.

I think that would be just as fun. And probably much more productive. It may even clear my head.

I am in the primary right now and I am fine with taking my turn and I truly love the kids I teach. They are all sweet kids and it’s a fun age. Trying to get them to sit still, be reverent, sing when appropriate and actually listen to what is being taught-not so much fun. I have had a few of my friends tell me they’d switch callings in a heart beat and they love being in primary and I used to feel guilty when they would say that but now I am done and they can have it. The only problem with that is what will the Bishopric give me next?

My Annie was in my class but I had to tell the primary president to move her before she dies an  ignominious death by her mother’s hand. I thought it would make it better and the president let me put whomever I wanted in my class. I did, within reason, but yesterday I think I visited the 9th circle of Hell for 2 hours.

Overdramatic? Probably.

All I know is my entire head was clenched so tight, I think my ear holes were even puckered up! I think I said, “Oh, for the love of Pete! Are you kidding me??” about 7 times in a 30 min period. I was telling those sweet angels to let me give the lesson for longer than I was actually giving the lesson. Again, these are all great kids, they are just being 4/5 year olds. I feel like I have tried everything to make it better for us all. Some days I feel successful. I think I have had 5 of those days this year. Maybe that is a good year, I don’t know.

So I came home yesterday, drained, frustrated and sad. I was still trying to fast and I hadn’t replenished my stash of Diet Coke figuring I would be fasting and then would need to just drink water when I was done. I gave up on the fast around 1:15, grabbed as much change as possible, and headed for Ream’s and their vending machine.

They apparently got rid of it. Losers.

I headed over to Macey’s to the vending machine that likes to play Russian Roulette with my sanity and lose change hoping for the best. I put my $1.25 (Buck 25?? Outrageous!! But desperate nonetheless…) in the machine, stopped breathing for a second as I pushed the Diet Coke button and heard the oh so sweet sound of that 20 ounce bottle bumping it’s way down to the hole of happiness. I planned to buy 3, I had to get through the rest of the day somehow, so I pushed the button again to make sure it wasn’t sold out. Suddenly I heard that beautiful noise again and another Diet Coke sat in the hole of happiness. Perplexed knowing I hadn’t put anymore money in the machine, I pushed the button again and it said it was now sold out. I was curious so I pushed the Diet Coke with lime button and lo and behold, bump, bump, bump, there it was again in the hole of happiness.

I was laughing (which felt good, I hadn’t even smiled yet that day) and looking around for the camera just knowing I must be on one of those summer reality shows called “How honest are you?” or “What would you do?” , doing just that-wondering what to do. Macey’s was closed, the machine wasn’t taking my money and if I left money there someone undeserving would take it or use it. I pushed the “Return” button to see if it would give me my money back and a Clink, Clink, Clink later there was the $1.25 I had put in the machine. I figured by taking my money I was keeping someone with real bad intentions from robbing the machine blind.

Did I do the right thing? Can I say I am honest in all my dealings? I’m not sure. I would like to think that this little experience was a “Manna From Heaven” moment. I want to believe it was God telling me I am doing what I should be doing and he’s proud of my measly contribution to my ward. He knows I am having a hard time and wanted to give me a giggle and a Diet Coke to make it all better.

If nothing else, it helped me unclench my face and smile.

{For those of you who maybe don’t go to church right now, I am totally kidding! It is wonderful every time you go and for the whole three hours!! I live for Sundays! You should totally come-just don’t sit by me or you won’t hear ANYTHING being said!!! The Church is true and Primary is the best EVER!!!}