Seek and Ye Shall Find

     The morning had not started well. I'd made the mistake of saying good morning to the children and telling them it was time for breakfast. This was met with outbursts of how unfair it was that they never had any time to play and how I was always interrupting their games with such trivial things.
     Well, excuse me for living.
     I felt the anger rising in me. A dozen accusations bubbled in my mind, threatening to spew out in spiteful words from my lips. It was early enough that my husband had not left for work yet. So, biting my tongue and clenching my fists, I burst out the front door and into the morning air in hopes of releasing that pent up frustration.
     I walked briskly, determination in each step. I'm so sick of this! How can they be so ungrateful? The list of injustices began to multiply in my mind. But I knew, I had a choice to make. I could continue my tirade and succeed in making this a long and miserable day - both for me and my children - or I could choose to be happy in spite of the challenges.
     I carried my camera with me, hoping to find something of beauty to help calm me, something to give this day a second chance.
     And you know what? I found it.

     I was a little chagrined to have found it so easily. In fact, there was a little nagging inside me, that cynical voice of Doubt that told me, "Aw, c'mon. You think a couple green weeds and some blue sky are gonna do the trick? We're talking about justice here! They've got no right to treat you that way! And you're just gonna let them get away with it?" I realized it truly is up to me. It's all about what I choose. I could let this be the answer - let these simple things renew me and invigorate me with fresh courage. Or I could insist on something more, demand some restitution and remorse from those that had wronged me. I could demand something I had no control over. And end up bitter and resentful.
 
     So I resigned myself. I gave up and I gave in -  to happiness.
 

     Sweet surrender.