It comes in
...different forms...
at
...different times...
in
...different ways...
in
...all seasons of life...
Disappointment.
Maybe you forgot
...to take your picture for the day...
or
your plans got cancelled
or
your Love
...walks away...
Maybe
...you don't have enough money...
for that vacation
or
you might be
...disappointed...
in
a bad decision
you
...or your child...
made
Maybe
...your iPhone...
quit working
and
you lost all your
...precious photos...
or
Perhaps
you didn't
get that job
you wanted
or
it didn't snow
...like the weatherman promised...
You may feel
...disappointment...
for someone else
...and generally...
you can separate yourself
from someone else's
defeating situation
but
when it is your child's
...disappointment...
it weighs heavy
on your heart.
You want to take it away
make it better
give him hope
encourage her
and
words seem so
...small...
and
...insignificant...
especially when
it seems like
the only
...news...
they get
...lately...
is
...a letdown...
When
shoulders sag
face is fallen
and
he says
"I don't want to talk about it"
you sense
the
...disillusionment...
...disenchantment...
...dissatisfaction...
...disheartened...
...discouragement...
dismayed
defeated
dejected-ness
you know
your child
has
hoped
for this
one thing
and
you, too,
have hoped
because
as their parent
you are
their
...biggest cheerleader...
You just
...knew...
it would
come to pass
that
finally
this one thing
would
restore the balance
renew
reawaken
revive
and
perhaps even
...reconcile...
When
your child
places
so much expectation
into something
that it
far exceeds
reality
How do you
...in all wisdom...
restore
their hopes
and
dreams
lift
their spirit
renew the
...ambition...
...endurance...
...motivation...
...faith?
That is where I am today.
Lately.
Struggling with disappointment
...after disappointment...
and
...here I am...
...pressing into God...
trying to
...find the good...
in the journey
because
we are blessed
beyond belief
It's hard to place hope
in things
...unseen...
it's much easier
to hope in the tangible
...the present...
the
here and now
immediate gratification
Jesus tells us that
"...in this life, we will have suffering..."
but that we are to
"have faith...because he has overcome
this world..."
and really
"disappointment"
...in this case...
doesn't compare
with what
"suffering"
is
We have.
We have a lot.
love
security
a home
our health
intelligence
education
freedom
food on the table
food in the fridge
clothing
...laying all over the place...
our favorite shows on t.v.
devices that give us
...immediate...
communication with
...each other...
and
...information...
at the touch
of a screen
We have
our faith in Jesus
salvation
our five senses
so we can
...see the sunrise...
...hear the music...
...smell the cookies...
...feel the warmth of a hug...
...taste the coffee...
...and...
...sense the love...
amidst life's
disappointments
Perhaps
...herein...
lies the answer to my question
of
...how to restore hope...
we lean into
...each other...
we lift our
eyes unto the Lord
we confess our
...obstacles and setbacks...
to God
and
to each other
until
God moves on our behalf
in a way
that only He can
in a way
that we can see Him
in a way
that we can feel Him
we encourage each other
...reminding each other...
of our
blessings
and
that
...we are loved...
in spite of
...how Life makes us feel...
"Do not be anxious about anything
but in all things,
with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends
understanding
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers,
whatever is true
whatever is honorable
whatever is just
whatever is pure
whatever is lovely
whatever is commendable
if there is any excellence
if there is anything
worthy of praise
think about these things."
Phil. 4: 6-8
Pray
Thank the Lord
and
Count your blessings
My blessings?
...these two nuts...
and
I aspire to
instill in them
the hope of
Christ
the blessing of
faith
the strength of
perseverance
in the face of
Life's
disappointments
Sorry about the disappointment, Janelle, but this is a wonderfully beautiful essay. You are blessed.
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