Hard Things

My last post was light-hearted and designed to be uplifting and fun.  Hopefully if you had a chance to read it, it brought a smile.  But there is a flipside of life and writing about it reminds me that some people are going through really hard things and a smile is not something they are feeling right now. 

Recently I sent a message to someone I don’t actually know and I’ve only ever communicated with through social media.   He is going through something really, really hard right now.  I was just lead to tell him that while there isn’t a lot I can physically do to be supportive, I at least wanted him to know that he’s continually in my thoughts and prayers.  Now I am aware that, at least here in the USA, that phrase became a political touch point on a controversial issue and it cheapened the idea of thinking and praying for someone.  But the message I sent was received as intended and I got back the most heartfelt and genuine response.  No matter how trite my lame attempt to provide comfort may have seemed, just that short message made someone feel less alone as he traverses a very difficult journey.

Life, as we all know, is this amazing coaster ride of ups and downs and twists and turns and you have to be made of some strong stuff to navigate it and not throw up (coasters and I don’t get along).  We can have all the steely determination to just bite the bullet and power through, but ultimately, we need to know that we aren’t alone.   Feelings of fear and anxiety and helplessness are all made better by knowing someone else is standing right outside the fire working to extinguish the flames that threaten to burn us alive.  Humans are social creatures by nature.  We need each other.  

I also believe that we have a God who values us more than all the stars in the universe and loves us beyond anything we can comprehend.  Even when people fail us, we are never alone.  Knowing that to be true in my own life (and I’ve been through some stuff!) has made me understand that I can represent that love to other people who are going through the hard things this life hands us.  Sometimes we can do something big and tangible.  Sometimes all we can do is let someone know we are thinking of them and praying for them.  When all you know to do is that, do that.

  

All of this means that we need to be paying attention to the pain of those around us.  Someone in your circle is likely going through something right now.  Use what you have been through to help that someone.  Sometimes all it takes is letting them know that their pain matters to you, that you’re thinking of them and praying for them.  And that’s not a hard thing.