Suck it up, Buttercup!

Suck it up, Buttercup!  Ah, one of my most favorite phrases next to "you're an idiot" and "be a man, rub dirt on it".  I will be completely honest and say that I have zero tolerance for people who simply can not step up to the plate for the greater good.  You know who they are; the worker who calls in sick for a week for a paper cut and the clerk who, while scanning your purchases, complains about how hard their life is and that they haven't had a 10 minute break in two hours (uh, newsflash at least you have a job).  I'm sure you get the idea and can name many, many more. 

See, the problem is, that I look at my life and the lives of my close friends and I see a group of people who balance a varied combination of work, kids, school, higher education, church, volunteer activities, health issues, care giver responsibilities, financial problems, and any other given emergency that comes along, all while throwing $10 or 10 minutes at a 'cause' and maintaining somewhat of a smile while doing it.  These are the people I choose to be around because they are like me, which is energizing and convenient because there are no explanations necessary.  I then look at others who have, seemingly, very little responsibility and, when they complain, I think "Suck it up, Buttercup!  You have no clue what it's like to be busy". 

But then the other day it hit me.  If God only gives us what we can handle then what if that IS all they can handle?  What if God has them stretched to their limit even though, to us, their limit is a perceived teaspoon of water compared to the floods of our lives?  Maybe the woman who only has her husband and a restaurant meal to deal with today is handling all she can?  Maybe getting up for a 4 hour shift at a grocery store is all that man is capable of?

With this realization, I am determined to be less judgemental and more grateful that God trusts me so much and that I will continue to pray that He mold me and stretch me into the person He wants me to be.  I can't imagine not asking for more from God in the way of responsibility because with doing work in His name comes blessings.  I can honestly say, I have seen some incredible things along the way. It humbles me that God continues to bless me and give me more than I, at times, want to handle but I trust that He will guide me through.  I am grateful to be able to see that God has a bigger plan for my life and, even though I don't know what that plan is, I know that He will push me through to the next level. 

And no, I probably will not stop yelling "Be a man, rub dirt on it!  You're not bleeding!" to my kids out on the football field or baseball diamond, but I want them to know that since God brought them to this, He can get them trough this.