It Will Get Better
“Breathe, it’s just a bad day, not a bad life.” ~ Unknown
To a certain extent, we are all over-reactors at one time or another in our lives. We might find a task particularly difficult and whine about it. We might find an experience particularly gut-wrenching and complain about having to endure it. We might find a person particularly obnoxious and do all that we can to avoid that person.
In the process, we can begin to obsess about all the negative things that happen in our lives and we begin to obsess about all the negative things that might happen in our lives. We get ourselves into a funk. We become depressed. We become irritable. We become just as obnoxious as some of the people we try to avoid. Why?
“Breathe, it’s just a bad day, not a bad life.” That recommendation is really good advice. We need to learn not to get too filled with ourselves. Sometimes things happen just because things happen. We need to let them go and to realize that, in the grand scheme of things, they are rather small and insignificant especially compared to all that God has in store for us.
If we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with the negative things that happen in our lives, we just might miss out on what God is trying to say or do in our lives. We might miss out on the invitations of those around us to enter into a deeper relationship with God. We might miss out on the true need of those around us which would prevent us from helping them.
One of the Sisters told us a long time ago when I was in grade school that we have to learn to laugh at ourselves and our misfortunes. I did not understand that for a long time. Now, I have come not only to appreciate it but to rely on the healing power of that chuckle at misfortune.
If you’re having a bad day, don’t worry. It will get better. It’s not a bad life. And the life to come? Well, that is just too fantastic to even imagine.
FAITH ACTION: If things have been a little hectic and crazy in your life, take a deep breath, ask God to shoulder your burden, and go on with your day confident that God will not let you down.