Day 43: Lessons Learned

Just when I think I got a handle on determination, goal setting and enjoying the present (instead of dwelling on the past or dreaming of the future)...something like bed bugs has to pop up.

My thoughts today have gone from one exaggeration to another:

"This is the worst thing I have had to go through!"
"Why me????"
"It is going to take forever to get rid of these bed bugs...they live for over a year!"
"I bet spraying and cleaning the children's rooms won't be enough, I will have to spend weeks and months cleaning, scrubbing, vacuuming the entire house and washing all of our contents!"
"How am I going to do this???"

At times like these, it pays to think of the past - I have survived termite seasons, flying cockroaches, a very bad flea infestation, mice in my attic, and lice (my own as a child and my children's bout).

What is the one thing I have learned from all of this? It will end. One way or another, it will end. At some point in my life, it will end.

I have also learned from these past experiences that my current pest problem is not a reflection on my abilities to keep a house or be a good mother. It is just a part of life - Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden and the Earth was cursed for their sake.

I have often thought that scripture story was referring to weeds, but I think it includes bugs as well. I am sure there is some grand reason for things like bed bugs, fleas and lice...not really sure what it is. I wonder if those things (cockroaches included) existed in the  Garden of Eden or did God create them when He cursed the Earth for Adam's sake? And if the pests (mosquitoes included) existed in the Garden of Eden what were there purpose to the ecosystem? As far as I can tell they only exist to pester me!

Since I can not answer that deep philosophical question, I can remember the lessons I have learned form the past - this will end, this is not a reflection on my abilities and vacuuming & washing are needed (thank goodness for modern conveniences). I can live in the present by using my time wisely between cleaning and schooling (and realizing the work is never really finished so I don't have to kill myself to get it all done in one day). I can look forward to the future by continuing my walking each and every day and dreaming of a bug free home (even if it is just for a few months...).

And perhaps all of that is part of the journey, too.