Life doesn’t always go according to plan. And many days we’re forced to change our course even after we’ve invested in a different direction. But it’s best to accept this spilled milk with grace when we cannot change what has happened or what’s now required of us.  

For instance, our vehicle starts to make noises and now a stop by the repair shop is in order. Or our kid accidentally breaks something around the house that now needs to be replaced. Or maybe our wife simply cannot find anything she wants to wear and this delays our plans for the evening.

Whatever it looks like, spilled milk adds to our day things we didn’t anticipate and comes with an unplanned cost no matter how small. These moments are disruptive and frustrating to say the least, and can quickly send us over the edge particularly if we already have a short fuse.  

And this is true even when we understand it’s not that big of a deal. It’s only natural to be upset at first whenever we have to deal with the trouble of spilled milk. 

And, to be sure, being upset is not the problem. In fact, it’s often good to acknowledge our frustrations as this allows us to honor the cost required of us moving forward. 

The real issue is how we move forward when faced with spilled milk. And when the situation cannot change or our responsibility in it, accepting it for what it is and simply rolling with the punches is generally our best path forward. 

This is not an issue we were planning to deal with today, but this is the issue we must now face. And ignoring it or taking our frustrations out on others only compounds the problem.  

Take a deep breath and give yourself grace whenever you’re upset over spilled milk. And then carry on – faithfully doing what needs to be done even when your day has been disrupted. 

Photo by Anita Jankovic on Unsplash

Dr. Corey Carlisle

Dr. Corey Carlisle

Licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist - providing Christian counseling and soul care to individuals and couples, with a special emphasis on developing the masculine soul. Suwanee, GA 30024

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