I find it fascinating that when I meditate and am given a word to work on it frequently becomes the incentive I need to make it through the week.

This week was no exception. 

I clearly heard” I Can.”

I rejected it three times and it returned to my mind each time.

My daughter has been using a bed that was part of my Grandmothers wedding bedroom set. She died at the age of 98, and that was in 2010 or something like that. It is made of wood. No doubt the wood is old and brittle. I didn’t think to do anything to maintain it. So when my daughter tripped over the dog and caught herself on the edge of the mattress the thin piece of wood that held the box spring splintered. I needed to buy a new bed…

She found a metal bed within the price range I could afford. It was delivered to our house on Monday afternoon. Of course it was in pieces….Lots of pieces.

I’m no stranger to putting furniture together. I didn’t think it would be too difficult. Now if only directions were written well. Twice we needed to take a section apart and begin again. There were pieces all over the living room.

We started with the headboard as instructed. I had a 1 hour meeting that we paused for. It took us more than 3 hours… Then we needed to take her bed apart and remove it from her room so we could assemble the base of the bed in place. We needed to clean the area….We have a Great Pyrenees dog. We could have provided hair for a whole other dog with what was under her bed! 

For each step of the instructions it tells you the pieces you need to gather to get the step accomplished. Each piece in numbered. The directions said we needed 5 of piece #25. We have two. I’m confused because before we even started putting this thing together I went through them and laid them out in sequential order checking them against the master list at the beginning of the instructions. How could I have lost 3 of them?

I recount, I look everywhere we have been, lifting packaging, moving the box, and beginning to panic. It’s now 7 PM and I haven’t eaten. 

I appreciate my daughter so much. She is the logic to my emotions. As I keep saying, “This doesn’t make sense,” repeatedly she continued to read the directions and took note of where and when # 25 was needed. We only needed 2 of them. 

Putting the frame on the headboard and foot board required using an Allen wrench. For many of the connections there was little space. I was only able to turn it 1/4 turn, then remove it, reinsert it, and repeat until each bolt was in place. My daughter approved of my use of the “F” word as it became harder for me to reinsert the blasted wrench in the tiny hole while sitting crouched on the floor in the corner of the room. 

Once that was accomplished the rest was fairly strait forward…

But oh wait! There’s a decorative light that needs to be hooked up to the back of the headboard. At least we hadn’t put the boxspring and mattress on yet. 

I carefully step between the metal slats, crouch over and try to stick my hand up against the wall to feel for a cord….I’m short. My legs and arms are short and I don’t feel anything….I bend over as far as I can, crouching even more while turning my head up and sideways..there it is! But I can’t reach it. 

My daughter is eventually able to connect the two chords and is delighted with the flashing light. She chose the color she wanted and we get the boxspring and then the mattress in place. I gathered the trash, tools, and hardware while she made her bed with clean linen.

I think we finished close to 9 PM. I’m not quite sure. My whole house was a disaster. Cardboard, paper, furniture, bedding, pillows, hardware, tools, plastic bags of all sizes were scattered in hallways, the living room, and on the dinning room table. 

My body felt like I was nearing 80, not 70. I dragged my aching body to bed, got undressed and laid down with a groan. I was so happy we got it done.

The next morning I was even more sore. I looked at the disaster around my house and knew that I needed to take care of it sooner rather than later or I would get cranky. I can put up with a little disorder, but I need the floors hallways clear. The nurse in me is always on the lookout for potential health hazards and danger. While I could open the front door and exit, there was a headboard and footboard and a huge cardboard box encroaching on the space.

But first I needed coffee and my morning routine to ground me. After coffee, journaling, and my spiritual time I got dressed. Knowing I’d need energy I got something to eat. I needed to rearrange some things in the garage to make room for the bed pieces. Then I brought them out one by one. 

And finally I needed to get rid go the cardboard box, so I got out my box cutter and went to work so I could put it in the recycling bin. Cutting up the box produced a bit of a mess on the floor, so next I swept the hallway, living room, and dining room. Finally I put away my tools and laid down on the couch with a book. 

“I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Many times over the past couple of days I struggled with logic, emotions, and physical strength. But persevering through it all one step at a time reminded me that I really can accomplish what I need to. And perhaps as I struggle through the muck and uncertainty that is our country right now, I can remember that I am not alone and I am stronger than I give myself credit for.