Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

My Adventures in Israel By Devorah Burnet Don't Sweat the Small Stuff When we first moved to Israel I was less than impressed with the ediquette, or lack of it, in this culture. I can remember being cut off on the road in Nashville, TN and dwelling on it, obsessing over it for days. I would call my friend and tell them the whole story, with drama and animation, about how I nearly lost my life on the road, that it was a miracle we survived. But in a 15 minute drive to the supermarket in Israel, you can experience the same drama no less than a handful of times, and not think twice about it as you are waiting in line to pay for your groceries. The fact that a man just came within inches of taking out your car or your life, and everyone else's, without looking at any of you, as if you weren't there and he owns the road, is completely forgotten by the time you are having an argument with the guy trying to convince you that his agalah (supermarket buggy) should be in front of yours because he placed it near the line while he left to finish his shopping. And by the time you are putting your groceries in the car, you have forgotten all about the grocery line argument, because someone is honking at you to put your kids and groceries in the car faster so he can have your parking spot and agalah. After several near death experiences on the way home, you've forgotten about the person hurrying you out of your parking spot while you stop for gas only to have to wait 3.8 minutes for the man in front of you to double park on the road chatting with someone on his cell phone, causing you to veer into oncoming traffic, scattering cars all over the road of which you don't even notice. Upon returning home, your spouse asks "how was your day?" and you say, "lovely, uneventful, I was happy to find a legal place to park and I found an agalah with three wheels, I only pulled 5 muscles and got one hernia while pushing it" you respond with a smile. "Oh and by the way, no rockets landed near us either and the lines were short, we got out of there in less than two hours without giving anyone a black eye." Israel has a way of helping people get over theirselves. It puts things into perspective and helps us to not sweat the small stuff. I no longer take offense to what others think or say or do. Miracles are a daily occurance and when someone cuts you off or takes your place in line, you laugh it off and let it go. Its forgotten ten minutes later because there are more battles ahead. I noticed a favorite word of many Israelis (in English) is "nevermind". It reminds me of a book I read some years ago called The Right Words at the Right Time. There was a story in the book about the song "Let it Be". Paul McCartney's mother was named Mary and her words of wisdom were "Let it be" I've often found myself singing that song in Israeli traffic. Recently I was thinking about the divisions and splintering of religious or political groups. How in the past in America, when my spiritual or political toes got stepped on, or my political car got run off the road, I'd call a friend to vent about the drama, reliving every detail and obsessing over it for weeks. Funny how Israeli traffic and lack of social graces can cure you of such offenses. Seems Israel has taught me to not sweat the small stuff anymore. Personally, I really don't care anymore what political party you support, what religion you are, or if you agree with my zealous passionate zionist agenda. I really love you no matter what. And guess what, I even love the Palestinians! Turns out that guy double parked on the road holding up traffic while talking on his cell phone was my next door neighbor who I joyfully waved to upon pulling up to the house with my groceries. And the guy with his buggy in line was my arab friend who works at the bakery. Its a different world here. Israeli system of government is based on parliamentary democracy. With 120 parliament members representing over two dozen parties! Israel's elected Prime Minister represents the majority party. So rather than the "us against them" mentality often seen in the states (republicans vs. democrats) we can have 20 friends all voting for more than 20 parties! And in the end all that really matters is that we are all on the same side fighting the same war. And when we are on the front lines, it won't matter that my brother on my right or my sister on my left, belonged to the same political party or not. It won't matter that yesterday he cut me off in traffic or took my place in line. Truth is, I won't even notice those small things. Because when all hell breaks loose, and it will, all that matters is the bigger picture. I often get a chuckle now out of reading American news. People suing for this or protesting about that. In one aspect the middle east can bring on a new kind of stress, but at the same time, I find I get my feathers ruffled a lot less. Israel has one of the highest life expectancies. Israeli teens are among the happiest in the world. Our economy, health, and education stats are off the charts in comparison to most. Sometimes being in "survival mode" can allow us to shed the stuff that just doesn't matter. I'll leave you with this joke... What happens when a fly falls into a coffee cup? The Italian - throws the cup and walks away in a fit of rage The Frenchman - takes out the fly, and drinks the coffee The Chinese - eats the fly and throws away the coffee The Israeli - sells the coffee to the Frenchman, the fly to the Chinese, buys himself a new cup of coffee and uses the extra money to invent a Device that prevents flies from falling into coffee. or this one... A reporter asks 4 men in NY about the recent meat shortage, "Excuse me...What's your opinion on the meat shortage?" The American says: What's a shortage? The Russian says: What's meat? The Chinese man says: What's an opinion? The Israeli says: What's "Excuse me"?.....

Motherhood

My day began with the usual quiet time of prayer in the dark quiet hours of early morning, then snuggling moments with a toddler and 5 year old. Then I raced around to get the 4 younger ones dressed, breakfast, lunches packed, teeth brushed, vitamins taken, stuffing homework into backpacks and finding shoes and jackets. Then I rushed one off to kindergarten and ran errands downtown. Bank, post office, grocery store, etc. I returned home realizing I hadn't eaten breakfast and it was near lunch time. I ran around the kitchen stuffing chips in my mouth as I put away groceries. Midway through cleaning the fridge, and putting away groceries, and cooking part of tonight's supper, my two year old spilled a cup of juice. As I was midway through cleaning the juice, the phone rang. I finished the phone conversation to find my two year old had emptied the book shelf of all the photo albums. It was past noon when I hadn't finished the groceries, cleaning the fridge, eating lunch, cooking supper, doing the dishes, or folding the 7 unfolded loads of laundry. About this time, I began to rethink my opinion of legalizing marijuana! Determined to get something accomplished, I handed my son a rag and showed him how much fun it was to wipe up the juice while we danced and sang "you are my sunshine". Yes, just call me the wiping queen!

Motherhood has given me more joy in my life than words can say. I've been privileged to have been mothering for the last 20+ years. Being pregnant and/or breastfeeding for 18 of those 20 years has been more fulfilling (excuse the pun) than I'd ever dreamed. Always with a babe in arms, or snuggled at my side in bed, it has been a lovely chapter in my life of which I'm so thankful.

In these last 20 years I've changed over 25,000 diapers, wiped dirty bottoms thousands of times, wiped thousands of tears, wiped thousands of runny noses, wiped blood, vomit and spills. Could write a book of funny stories. Have been given thousands of kisses and hugs, a thousand pictures on my fridge, kissed countless boo boos, said tens of thousands of prayers. I've lost thousands of hours of sleep but gained thousands of days of laughter and love. I've learned more from my children than I've taught, and surely have much more to learn.

I've danced with my children, cried with them, learned with them, fought with them, triumphed together over challenges, I've hurt with them and for them, I've sacrificed my time, my own desires, my sleep, my figure, my favorite places and hobbies. I've watched them grow, mature, get married, step out into the unknown spread their wings and fly into new territories. I've watched them fall down, and get back up. I've watched them wrestle with the world, wrestle with their own faith, building their own convictions. I've sensed their passions as they set out to conquer goals.

Motherhood must be more entertaining than any hollywood movie and more rewarding than any university degree. I've reached highs that no drug could ever give!

When I look at all the turns my life could have made. All the paths I might have taken, I think of all I would have missed. My life is rich. Its been good and keeps getting better. The story isn't near over. It must be in the thick of the drama...the suspense...the mystery...the wonder...the awe.... I am blessed! I love my life and the God who gives me the privilege to live it!