Today I started my day at the soccer field, watching my boys play. I had an issue come up with one of his coaches that I felt needed to be addressed. I pulled her aside after the game and explained my concern, and it completely blew up in my face. It needed to be done, but she definitely didn't take what I was saying to be a "suggestion," but rather a direct attack on her character. Needless to say, I walked away crying because I felt like my voice wasn't heard and I had unintentionally hurt someone's feelings in the process. On the way to my car, I passed one of the coaches from the other team sitting in her car, who stopped me and asked if I was okay, and then she listened to my story. She gave me her phone number so we could get our kids together to play sometime. When I got in the car, Mark asked me if I saw her earlier in a wheelchair. I felt horrible about venting my sob story to her when, obviously, she was in a worse way than me. Later in the evening, I texted her to thank her for her kindness amidst her own trials. I ended up having a wonderful conversation with her about life and kids and trials and realized that this woman needs help right now.
Today solidified to me that sometimes Heavenly Father puts us in situations where we think we are meant to learn one lesson, but really He has a totally different plan. If I hadn't had that very unpleasant experience with Abel's coach, I would have missed the opportunity to get to know and serve a truly fabulous person. I could have wallowed in the lemons I felt life was dealing me, but because I was willing to move on and see the good in the situation, I was able to have a very sweet experience that will have a lasting effect on my life. Sometimes "when life gives you lemons," you purposely try to "make lemonade." Sometimes it sort of happens on its own. I think that sometimes that unexpected lemonade is the best kind.
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