Woman 1: Is the glass always half full for you?
Woman 2: Naw, the glass is never half full! I be thirsty, and I'm drinking until it's empty because I need my refill!
~ Tiffani Jones and Harriet Hairston
Right now, I'm in a desert season where it seems like everything is dried up. During this time, I've found that optimism is overrated. It can only take me but so far. If my optimism is maintained, that's great. What's the motivation behind it, though? Is it simply a cliche or mirage for me to show others that I've got it all together? Who am I trying to impress?
Optimism dried up like a river during drought when my current circumstances didn't break like I was hoping they would. I had done EVERYTHING I was supposed to do, and the situation still didn't work in my favor! Optimism can't help something like that. The glass being half full is not helpful if I'm thirsty and need a drink. There has to be something more than my own attitude for me to lean upon.
I've found that Jesus is my Rock in situations where attitude is not enough. These days, optimism is NEVER enough for me! Jesus is the only one I can look to in order to maintain my sanity and well being. He sees my half full/half empty cup and tells me to take a drink so I won't be thirsty anymore. When I'm parched, a half full/half empty cup ain't gonna do NOTHING but make me mad. Pardon the double negatives, but it just is what it is!
I'm in a dry and barren land, and Jesus has the water that will never run dry for me. When it comes down to the nitty gritty, half full/half empty really doesn't matter, because I'm going to drink until I'm no longer parched. When it comes to leaning on Jesus, I'll drink to that!
Well, CSST (can she say that?)...who or what do YOU lean on when optimism and attitude just aren't enough?
30 June 2009
24 June 2009
"I like a man who grins when he fights." ~ Winston Churchill
Man...my circumstances have made me want to lay my sanity aside and just LOSE it!
...But looking at me, you'll never know.
Man...my money being funny has me tempted to file bankruptcy.
...But looking at me, you'll never know.
Man...all the times my son has been hospitalized makes me feel so helpless. I'm his mama, but all the love, hugs and kisses couldn't medicate his struggle to breathe.
...But looking at me, you'll never know.
Man...I've wanted to make my marriage last till death do us part, and at times, I've been tempted to ask God to let me go to sleep and not wake up.
...But looking at me, you'll never know.
Man...my home is in foreclosure, and I really don't know what the outcome of our loan modification application is going to be.
...But looking at me, you'll never know.
All that to say, I've got REAL, difficult, daunting issues staring me in the face. Somehow, though, the fruit of the Holy Spirit has stepped in and given me peace that passes human understanding. God knows with all I have working AGAINST me right now, I could have been some sad, tragic story on CNN. I'm grateful to God for the ability to maintain my sense of humor through all this. All is not well, but my smile is not gone. I've taken some hits that have made me buckle, but I'm not planning on throwing in the towel.
We have to learn to be unpredictable in our daily fight to maintain our love, joy and peace. I'm crazy enough to take a blow like foreclosure or sickness, and act like such a thing only tickled. Although in reality, I'm not taking any of my issues lightly, outwardly, I'm grinning and still fighting. Between the enemy and I, one of us is going to give up. I plan to outlast all this foolishness and live to fight another day. What about you?
