There I was sitting at the drive-thru window. A place I’ve spent lots of time here recently. Nothing really different. The same song and dance. I had my food. Then last but not least, my drink. Not just any size drink. A large drink. As the drink leaves their hand and makes it into mine, something begins to go wrong. I didn’t have a very good grip on the cup. Then it happens. The cup falls out of my hand. Every drop is dumped in the car – in the car on me.

As I sat there shocked for the moment, I began to realize what had just happened. I dumped an enormous amount of liquid all over my clothes. They were nice enough to give me another drink and lots of napkins. I couldn’t believe that I had just lived through this. My wheels were already rolling as to how I was going to clean up this mess. No small project here. This was going to take awhile.

After the shock of the moment, I began to process this whole fiasco. Then I did what any wise person would do. I enjoyed the gift of laughter. Laughing at myself for what I had just lived through.

Normally this wouldn’t have been my reaction. It would have been one where I would have said lots of mean and cruel things to myself. “Natalie, can’t you do any better than that? That was so stupid. Don’t you have anymore sense than to know how to hold a cup? What an idiot!” That would have been my reaction had this happened a few years ago, but not now. I’ve grown so much and learned who I really am.

I’ve learned to love myself no matter what. Things will go wrong in life so I might as well make the best of the situation. It’s okay that I’m not perfect. It gives me something to work on. I am an overcomer. I have the mind of Christ therefore I am continually progressing. I am a masterpiece of my Heavenly Father. I am valuable. I am loved. I am honored. I am cherished. I am a victor. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I am free to be who He made me to be…just to name a few.

When I focus on who God says I am, then it changes how I view the world, myself, and even when I dump jumbo sized drinks on me. I saturate myself in the beauty of His truth. I live with it night and day. Regardless of what I think, I make myself concentrate on who He says I am- not on everyone else’s opinion of me. I stay grounded rock-solid in this place. Not wavering to the right or the left, but staying laser focused on these love principles day-in and day-out. That’s what keeps me on track.

I lived through the spilled drink incident. I got my car and clothes cleaned up. After it was all said and done, I had pleasant memories knowing that I gave myself some grace. It wasn’t the end of the world. I survived with a few laughs along the way. Even though I don’t recommend spilling a drink in your car, you can still have a good attitude about the mishaps in life. It’s all about perspective and outlook. Looking at the world through positive lenses instead of negative ones. It’s our choice on how we view it.

The next time you’re in drive-thru and you pick up a drink, make sure you have a firm grip on the cup. Otherwise, you will be in for an exciting adventure that you won’t soon forget. Clean up your car and yourself, but laugh along the way. It’s not everyday that you have your own personal waterfall in your vehicle. You will get through this. Put a smile on your face. Sing a song and know that it’s all gonna be alright. It’s just another exciting day in your life.