Kids will sometimes be sassy. Misbehave. Lie. Get into trouble.
Babies will sometimes be fussy. Wake you at night. Barf all over you.
What are we to do? Be mad? Pout? Cry? Well sometimes, yes, that's what we do. But we gotta snap out of it. And give Him these crosses. He has overcome all the messes of this life. All the yuck. All the hurt. All that divides us.
"The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
~Matthew 26: 41
People can be kind. Give of themselves when they themselves are struggling (this is my aunt and uncle!!). Friends will remember you. Help you. Walk along side of you and actually be there.
Kids can be sweet. They can help each other. Help you. Without being asked. Their smiles and love can take your breath away.
Babies are adorable. And full of life. And love. And such adorable squishiness.
We have to turn our frowns upside down. Make some lemonade out of the lemons of life. Find the joy amongst the mess and hurt. His grace and presence is there if we but open our eyes and look.
What can you do when you are feeling down? Stepped on? Crushed? Here are some things that I do that really help. I hope and pray one or more of these ideas can help you on your down days.
#1 - PRAY! and pray again. "Lord, I need You" is what first comes to my thoughts and lips. "I need you to fill me, lift me, love me"
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you"
~James 4:8
~James 4:8
#2- ask for prayers. Call on those patron saints. Your guardian angel. Your closest friends. The more prayers the better!
#3 - vent - but not the nasty gossipy type. I text/call my husband. He loves me. Even though I may grump and share what's bothering. He listens and tried to understand me. He may correct me and even set me straight. But most of all, he cares for me and wants to help carry the cross of whatever is weighing me down.
#4 - click here. Turn up your speakers. And just listen and close your eyes. If you have time, stay awhile and read. You will walk away feeling refreshed.
#5 - Turn on some fun music. We are big Ralph's World fans. Raffi is a classic. And goofey and fun too. Although the bigger kids now roll their eyes because they are "too cool" for him now. But there was a day when they would dance and sing to those silly songs. Just the other day when I was working with Mario on his math lesson, one of the story problems had "The Corner Grocery Store" in it. Do you know what we had to go listen to? (see the video below) And you can bet that after we watched this video, I got a the teeniest hint of a smile, even though he was trying to hide it!
#6 - Laugh! What makes YOU laugh? Jim Gaffigan is great. Watching old videos of the kids are the sweetest. They definitely get me giggling. But I better watch it because there are certain videos found here, that if the rest of the young crew hears me playing them, they'll be right behind me watching and cackling soon enough.
#7 - Chocolate!! Or- pour a cup of coffee or tea for yourself. For me it's "blonde coffee". Yes, I'm that sort of coffee drinker. Doing something little like this for yourself can help you take a step back and just breathe. Self care is so important.
Satan wants us to be discouraged and bring us down, but we can't let him win. We know Who wins. Who is on our side. And loved us til the end. Have hope! He has overcome!! :)
"In thee oh Lord, have I put my hope. Let me never be confounded."
~St. Francis Xavier
****************
Click on over and join the rest of the 7 Quick Takes crew....
