What To Do When You're Hanging On

Today as I write this, I am sitting at Starbucks enjoying a latte and a kid-free morning thanks to the Mothers Day Out program at the First Baptist Church.  Big deal, right? Well...it is for me. TOTALLY new experience. I feel so hip and cool: writing, sipping coffee, grooving to Muddy Waters. (Thank you, Starbucks for making this Mississippi girl feel right at home with the blues. Someone must have told you I was coming.)

It's funny, listening to blues music when everything in my body screams "happy, happy, happy!" Metaphorically speaking, I'm finally enjoying some warm sunshine after a long, very cold rain. You know how sometimes you feel like you are hanging on by a thread? For a long time? You get weary. You get gloomy. You're tempted to give up hope. Everything gets a little gray. I just left that place, so I know how you feel.

I'm so glad that I didn't give in to those feelings. Yeah, some days I switched to auto-pilot... Plastered on the smile anyway. You know the drill. After a long time, though it begins to feel like it will never get better. For my family it was a series of tough-break circumstances. Maybe in your case it's an illness, job loss, divorce, or crisis of another sort. I don't know what the event is but I do know that nothing last forever. Cliche' but true. Sometimes it just takes a while. What do you do in the mean time? I'll share what helped me:

• Press in to scripture. Let God comfort you. Let Him guide you. Let Him love you through it.
• Lean in to trusted friends. It's okay to let others see you in your not so perfect state.
• Smile anyway. I read in a medical magazine that smiling and laughing can improve a blue mood
• Take a gratitude inventory. Really count your blessings. Be mindful in your everyday moments
• Reach out to someone else needing help. Practice hospitality, sharing, and encouraging others
• Objectively evaluate your circumstance. Change what you can and pray through the rest.

Don't give up - just hang on a little longer!

Sometimes things get a little worse it seems before they get better. It did for us. God rewards the faithful, though, so keep on. I am pleased to say that the series of troubles is over for the moment. My family is enjoying a reprieve from spiritual and physical battles. My husband has accepted a career change that included a relocation to Kentucky.

Everything seems so new and fresh (and 15 degrees cooler). We have been blessed with a small town in the mountains full of friendly people. Autumn is bringing crisp air, changing colors, and a whole new beginning for us. I'll post more about our adventure in getting here later.

Right now, I want to pray for you. "Father, I want to lift up this reader to you. You know what they are going through and you know exactly what they need. Bless them with, strength, direction, and endurance. Let them experience Your presence and fullness of joy. In Jesus' name, Amen"