Shake it off!

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I have got a new motto! Yes, there it is, in the title.

Now it has nothing to do with the song, but I thought that if I were to think about how Mariah Carey sings it then I could do it with style!

Well, the motto idea kind of stemmed from a conversation with a bosom buddy. She was sharing how a very petty circumstance parted a life long friendship. I thought it was a shame. The little foxes; the petty things!

So all morning I had been contemplating the matter and I decided that I would teach the concept to my kids. While watching my sons in the nursery at church with the other wonderful tots, I called out to my one year old who had just gotten knocked down by 2 three year olds. 'Siah, shake it off!,' I said, encouraging him to get up and keep it moving, especially since the other tots meant no harm.

I should have realized that after my mini lesson I would have a test of my own. So I too encountered a situation during the day where I felt seriously slighted. Oh my goodness, I ruminated over it, over and over, going from extreme thoughts of hurt and dejection to feelings of retaliation. But Glory Be to God, those 3 words rung into my ears until they journeyed to the center of my heart.

Eventually I stood up, shook it off, flung the bad feelings in the trash and went about my activities as if nothing happened.

And do you know what my 3 year old said to me when we got home? He said: "Mommy, you saved the day!" I felt like bursting out in tears. He had no clue of what had just ensued.

Yes, I did do the right thing. Yes, it was very hard. But no, I will not ruin my relationships because of petty things. And yes, this is a lesson worth living.

So my motto and what I'm going to teach my kids:

♪ Shake it off!♫

-Lyrics by tia 2013
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