“Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself, the most comforting words of all; this, too, shall pass.” ~ Ann Landers
When I was young, I marveled at the words of Ann Landers. She had so many good things to say to people about a great array of topics. Oh, sure, she had a real clunker every now and then. Who doesn’t? But, in the final analysis, her words rang more true than not.
I live by several of her maxims. Probably the one that I have recalled most throughout the years has been brought to mind whenever someone hurt me. There have been times in my life when I felt as if someone had truly wronged me. I would just remember Ann’s words, “Time heals all wounds and time wounds all heals.” It is a rewording of the old phrase, “What goes around comes around.” But, I liked her play on words better.
Words were important to her. She chose them well. She crafted them with great precision. They had to be just right, especially since so many people would see them printed in the daily papers.
She never seemed to choose big words. She did not want her audience to get lost in trying to figure out what she was trying to say. She just said what she meant. Simple words were the best for her. Today’s quote is one of them: “Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself, the most comforting words of all; this, too, shall pass.”
This, too, shall pass.
There are many people scrambling to have their power restored in Texas and Florida and other states because of two recent hurricanes. There are many people scrambling to put out fires in several western states. There are many people scrambling because their lives have been tossed around either because of natural disasters or because of emotional traumas.
This, too, shall pass.
In the midst of our panic, we need to do what Ann Landers would so often do: turn to simple words. Those words, simply chosen, need to be directed to God in prayer. That is one of the reasons why we so often come unhinged. We forget to turn to God and pour out our hearts to Him in simplicity and trust.
We do not have to use big words. We just have to tell Him how we feel. Of course, He already knows. He just likes to hear it directly from us.
FAITH ACTION: Pray for those who feel trapped and overwhelmed, that they may allow the grace of God to flow over them and calm their restless spirits.