People perhaps need to adapt to life as pets do

What do you do when you're overrun with responsibilities, all coming at the same time? I had lots to do yesterday. It was a Sunday. Our family had gone to church, then I prepared food. I seemed to be going in circles. Our daughter was working on her rental house, so I prepared food for her also. A part for a dishwasher had to be found. Our phone lines buzzed trying to find a repair person. Then my husband and I went to the funeral home to visit the family of a friend.

"Wow, what a day!" Does it sound familiar?

Everybody experiences times such as those I just described. Do you fret and stew, jump up and down and yell, become angry or become a nervous wreck? As I was trying to have my husband come inside from the garage to eat, I became perturbed because he was definitely taking his time. Nothing spurred him to hurry.

I glanced toward the kitchen floor and spied Penelope, our little beige-and-black pug. Her wrinkled face was pointed towards the door in a relaxed position. Penelope was snoring. She had vied for our attention all morning and kept barking until we allowed her to stay in the same room with us. Her continuous barking grated on our nerves, so we gave in. But after she felt included, she lay at my feet and went sound asleep, allowing nothing else to disturb her.

As I watched her calm demeanor, I realized that pets have a point. I should be more like Penelope. Regardless of what went on around her, she remained in a state of rest. Penelope accepts what she must. If she must stay tied up, she makes little fuss because she knows when we return, she will be given prompt and loving attention. She barks when it's time for a meal, and goes to bed in her kennel at night, after she patters outside. She has her routine, but if it gets changed she adjusts and lies down and sleeps, while she waits for what's next.

I did a lot of soul-searching while I waited for everybody -- to do what I wanted them to do. They didn't seem to be paying much attention to my dilemma of getting them together to eat, and go to destinations on which we had planned. Watching Penelope gave me a whole new perspective. Pets actually have little choice, although they can make you do their bidding by barking or making noises that suit their particular natures.

Jesus seemed to accomplish many tasks, and encounter many interruptions, but, except for a few times, such as when he cast out the money changers from the Jewish Temple (Matthew 21:12--13), he showed little frustration. He told people how they should behave, and went about the countryside doing what he felt he needed to do. People didn't necessarily always do what he asked, but he kept doing his Father's will. We can learn from Jesus's example of informing people, but not forcing them to fulfill his wishes.

If you can remember that your job is not to coerce people to do what you want them to do, but rather to quietly persuade, you'll derive better results. When you feel harassed and overwhelmed, you need to take the example of animals. Just settle down until it's time to move on, or circumstances make it possible. When the storm passes, you can again venture forward.

You can't force issues until the time is right, nor can you act as if others have no will of their own.

Instead, remember the serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr, American theologian.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Be like the pets in your life and be still until the dust settles. Things always do get accomplished in their own time.

Ellen Shuck holds degrees in psychology, religious education and spiritual direction. Her blog, "Chocolate for the Soul: Wisdom for Life" may be accessed at semissourian.com. She is the author of the book, "Wisdom for the Journey."