by Sharon Dunn
As the holidays approach, I am faced with a realization that the life I envisioned when I got married and had children is not going to happen. The holidays seem to amplify this reality. I thought I would be growing old with my husband and holidays would be filled with adult children and grandchildren celebrating with us. My husband died ten years ago and my kids are all struggling for various reasons much of it due to the fallout of losing their father at a young age. My relationship with one of my children is strained. None of them date. I doubt that I will have grandchildren. Widowhood is filled with a lot of loneliness and the holidays are the hardest because everyone is busy and involved with family. I'm not trying to be grim here, I'm trying to be honest. So often, it seems like when we are around other Christians, we feel like we have to tell only happy overcomer stories. Sometimes there is no triumphant story to tell, there is only a "getting by" story to tell. And that's okay.
Even with all that going on, I still believe that I need to walk in gratitude and live in hope. Here is where I am trying to put my focus. First, I need to live in light of eternity. Regardless of the circumstances of my life here on earth, I have a home in heaven where there will be no more tears and relationships will be healed. Second, every day, God gives me small gifts, a baby's smile, a friendly dog in the park, a meaningful conversation with a stranger or an opportunity to help someone, reminders that this world can still be a beautiful place. At the end of the day, I ask God to help me review what was good about that day and these things come to mind. Finally, it is not a good life where everything turns out right, that helps us grow closer to Jesus. There is opportunity here. We don't understand what Jesus went through in terms of suffering when everything is going smoothly and turns out okay. We identify with Jesus in our pain, our suffering, the betrayals and in being misunderstood because that's what he went through.
You may be going through things that make it hard to find joy this holiday season. Even with that, I would love to hear about the gifts that God gives you everyday, the small things that create gratitude for you in the midst of struggle. Let me know and leave your email. I'll randomly draw two peoples names to give away a copy of my book Thanksgiving Protector which is the first book in a three part series called Texas Ranger Holidays series from Love Inspired Suspense.
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