Simple things can help you survive these tough times. The things you choose must be special, significant and up-lifting for you. Overcoming doubt, fear, depression or disappointment is not a ‘one-size fits all’ experience. What at times works for others may or may not work for you. This is ok as long as you understand that there is something especially available for you. It could be a story, a song, prayer, praise, testimony and anything that God miraculously allows to speak to you.
The key is your willingness and ability to hear the message and allow it to take root in your heart (mind) long enough for you to see the fruit (relief, victory) even during the storm. The other day after talking with a counselor about some major events (death of my great-grandmother, cousin, murder of a classmate, divorce and job loss) that have transpired in my life within a short-time span (less than 2 years) I realized that what ‘I needed’ was to simply be held by loving arms. I could not help but think about the comfort my own son Ricky finds in my arms during what he sees as his rough days (i.e. football practice, attending a new school, etc). No matter what the problem has been for him, one thing he can count on is my willingness to listen to him and hold him as he processes the things that are happening in his young 11 year-old life.
At times I wish my own mother and great-grandmother were still here on earth to comfort me, however the memories of their love encourages me to give the same gift to others. Sunday during church I saw this young woman with tears in her eyes. I could see her sadness, the reasons for the sadness weren’t as important as her desire in that moment to find relief. Knowing what I knew about pain, sadness and relief, I joined her at the altar and hugged her. She cried and cried and cried.
I didn’t say much. What she needed was a simple touch. A touch reminding her that she is not alone, forgotten and yes, trouble doesn’t last always. Trouble teaches us a lot of things. It teaches us about the things that are working for us, worth holding on to, things we must let go of and things we need to walk away from.
As the going gets tough grab a hold of the things you know affirm how wonderful and precious you are. In order to do this you must stop looking to news headlines, stereotypes and statistics that dare to tell you how the story goes. Have you noticed that it seems easier to abandon principles and practices that have brought us a mighty long way in exchange for more education, money and material things? Now no one just sets out to do this, it just happens and trouble has a way of letting us know this. I can honestly say that I thought that my celebrity, success, intelligence, education and all those things that symbolize ‘we’ve made it,’ would help keep me during these rough times. The truth be told, they do not.
What I have come to know is that there is nobody like Jesus. There is nobody like God. I no longer apologize for my faith and how it has kept me because other things lack the power to do so. At times you may be tempted to abandon the truth that has set you free in order to fit in, even in the boardroom. But before you do, understand those people in the boardroom have issues too and to thine own self you must be true.
Education, success, popularity should be ‘in addition too’ what has brought you through, not ‘in lieu of.” Great-grandmother knew this and while in her arms she would always whisper something to remind me of this.
Blessings,
Delores M. Jones, MSW
website:DeloresInspiresMe.com
