Lessons Learned

Carrie Underwood – Lessons Learned

I’ve really grown to appreciate the lyrics of Lessons Learned on the album Some Hearts by Carrie Underwood. I’ve added the song to this page above so that you can listen, too. It is one of those that you might not notice as much at first because of the other songs on the album but the writing is great and it’s one of those songs that makes you stop and think about your life. I like it. It’s deep. And you know me and deep. Well, I learned a few lessons today. Daniel and I are actually on our way to Portland, Oregon right now for his business trip. We’re sitting in the Oakland airport looking out at the bay after a 5 hour flight from Nashville. It’s beautiful…at least in airport standards. We just had a little California Pizza Kitchen (since we are in Cali) while waiting to get on the last leg of our flight. Lesson #1: I checked us into our Southwest flights about 20 hours prior to departure….only 4 hours after online checkin opened for them. Our Nashville flight was already in the boarding group B by that point. Apparently others have learned the lesson I just learned. I normally wouldn’t care that much, but when you are on a 5 hour flight with your husband (or friend, or family member) on your semi-vacation trip, you kind of want to sit together and the letter “A” is usually your only guarantee for that. So the lesson I learned is to always check in ASAP for long flights because it seems like everybody else is doing the same. Lesson #2: Once we arrived at our gate, we got in the “B” line which was already quite long only to discover when we were boarding that a second “B” line had formed about 5 people ahead of us. This second line truly was the second line because it was not there when we got “in line”…but they didn’t know that. I’m trying really hard by this point to not care that much but find myself stressing over this a little too much. So, I remain calm and promptly tell my husband I am worried about not getting to sit together and hoping that some how he will fix it. (Random side note: I’m sitting next to this girl who is typing like 1000 words per minute and I am simultaneously finding myself trying to type faster. Ha! My typing skills are looking pretty lame about now and I used to consider myself a pretty good typist. I’m laughing at this competitive streak I have going today. Keep reading.) As the friendly Southwest personnel calls for group “B”, I inch my way forward trying to keep my place in line. And the lines converge…dun, dun, dunnnnn. So there is jostling, and scrambling, and screams, and scratching….just kidding….but there definitely was an air of competition and king of the hill syndrome going on between me and a few other people. I wasn’t going to make a scene but I really did want to sit by my husband and I knew that every person ahead of me was going against achieving that goal. I compromised and let two people go in front of me. I made a mental note to be kind and smile and then I was just frustrated with myself that I was caring this much. So this part of the lesson is a little more vague to me but definitely encompasses kindness, chilling out, and strategizing in line a little better. Lesson #3: Ok, here is the real lesson. So we are boarding the plane and the announcement is made that every single seat on the plane will be taken. As we make our way to the back of the plane, it becomes evident that there are not two seats together in the entire aircraft. Erghhhh. So I’m instantly disappointed and immediately turn my attention to finding two seats close together. I’m feeling a little obsessive at this point and somewhat crazy but it is my husband after all and we are on our trip together right? So I find two center seats on subsequent rows and go for them after Daniel says “I guess this means we don’t get to sit together.” After climbing over the aisle seater and sitting down, I turn around only to see Daniel going to the very back of the aircraft. What?!?! I think. I mouth to him something about him sitting close to me and he shrugs his shoulders. I went from disappointed to hurt and furious in about 1.5 seconds. I can feel the angry vibe seething from me and am feeling very sorry for the people beside me at this point. I honestly wanted to cry which seemed absurd and ludicrous but I was so upset by it and then upset that I was upset. Gosh, I let my emotions get the best of me sometimes. I decided in the 10 seconds before I am supposed to turn off my phone to text Daniel and tell him that I’m hurt and mad. I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea but I had a quick decision to make and the next 5 hours was already looking long in my middle seat. As soon as I pressed send, he walked up the aisle and asked me to get my bags and come with him. I felt like I was going to the principal’s office only for the lesson to hit me like a ton of bricks. I spoke way to soon. He had gone to the back because he saw a way to get us together by using some of his mad negotiating skillz. I should have known. I cannot jump to conclusions so quickly…especially when it pertains to my husband. I knew this one! I’ve already learned this lesson before. And then, to top it all off, the flight attendant makes an announcement about switching seats so a newlywed couple could sit together on their honeymoon. Ugh….I am so selfish. The LBD Dual Significance: I was reminded by my sweet friend Emily yesterday to lighten up about some things. She’s one of the only people on this earth who could smack me across the face and tell me to straighten up something and I wouldn’t be hurt by it. She’s definitely earned the right to speak truth into my life but somehow does it in a way that humbles me rather than upsets me. Thanks, Em. I went into today determined to do just that on this trip and on the very first segment of it, I’m already struggling. However, I am comforted to know that even though it is blatantly obvious that I am selfish and weak, I have this promise to cling to: Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Lord, thank you for your never ending supply of mercy and grace. Help me to live it out in every circumstance of life so that I make your name great and known rather than my own selfishness.