Life Happens

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”  ~ Charles Dickens

Today was one of those crushing days for me and my family. When you face failure and disappointment how do you respond? There is no doubt that day will come barreling down on you and Wham! … you are flatter than a pancake with the weight of the world pressing down on you. What did you expect? Did you think suffering was for everyone else and not you? It’s your turn now. Can you handle the reality of life?


I am very blessed. In fact, I am blessed beyond measure, but I’ve had a few tough breaks along the way too. I’ve come to expect them. Not in a cynical way or with angry resentment, but as part of the package we call “life.” It can be very disheartening and even defeating if we do not process disappointment properly, so let me give you a few pointers that helped me today.


1. Things can always get worse. So as bad as life seems, it is not as bad as it could be.


2. Don’t get hung up on the one thing that didn’t work but focus on all the other things that are working. I have many other blessings for which I can be thankful.


3. Every disappointment is a lesson learned and gives me a platform on which I can build future success. My pain is too valuable to waste. I must learn everything I can learn from it.


4. Life is for being on the way and heaven is for arriving. In other words, I am being prepared for something greater than I can possibly imagine. Pain is the price of admission.


5. My limp is a medal of honor which I can wear proudly. If I survive and use my experience to make me stronger, I am in the top percentage of all humanity.


6. If I have committed my life to God and placed my future in His hands, I can rest in the knowledge that nothing but good can come of the circumstances in my life. I can trust God completely.


7. Difficult circumstances prove my faith and make it real. Anyone can believe in God’s goodness when there is nothing for which to trust Him.


All of these things did not take the pain out of my suffering today. I cried a little while. But my outlook gave me hope that I am going to persevere and even prevail in the end. I trust these truths will give you determination to keep on keeping on. Life happens in ways we cannot control but we can respond in the right way and that will make all the difference.

“Life is a battleground in which our mind either works for us or against us. Never give up!”