D - Don't Forget You Can Do Hard Things

D - Don't Forget You Can Do Hard Things

This week I have been deeply touched by the many people I have witnessed doing REALLY hard things.  I don't think it's coincidence that this topic is the next one on my list of YOUCANDOIT steps to joy.  Each person I have come in contact with that has been dealing with a difficult issue has been doing so with such faith and hope.  They are great examples to me of doing hard things without losing sight of the big picture.

In the last 6 months alone, I have watched a dear friend dealing with having to receive a kidney transplant in the near future; a few others are either going through a divorce, just finalized a divorce, or on the brink of divorce; friends are struggling to balance home, work, school and church obligations; another just had a second surgery in about a 4 month period; death, infidelity, sickness from pregnancy, and a niece at the side of her husband who is fighting cancer (they are the parents of 4 amazing children, 3 of which are triplets).  What an inspiration they all are as they do these HARD things!!

How do you watch people around you doing extremely hard things without feeling guilty about thinking your problems are hard?  Satan would love nothing more than for us to compare our difficulties with each other because by so doing, we tend to put ourselves down.  We say to ourselves things like, "I don't suffer as gracefully as _______," or on the other extreme, "______ has a much easier life than I do."   Rather than feeling bad about ourselves I would suggest that we should learn from each other.  It would be much more productive to say: "I hope that I can learn to be as positive and smile like _______," or "I'm  happy for ______ because they seem to be having a break from major trials at the moment."

The fact is, no one leaves this life saying, "well, that was easy!"

Remember: just because it's hard doesn't mean you're doing something wrong, nor does it have to be someone's fault; it's just how life is.  We all have personal mountains to climb.   There are some challenges that we bring on ourselves because we have agency, and sometimes we make bad choices.  Other trials are just a part of living.  The point is, we can't and won't avoid all difficulties.  So when you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and tell yourself, "I can do hard things!"  You've done them before, so remember past experiences and use the lessons learned from them to make today even better.

Not one of my friends or family members facing these gigantic challenges is looking to be anyone's hero; they didn't ask to have to be an example of enduring.  Each day, they get up and just do their best with some days turning out better than others.  Sometimes I'm sure they don't see themselves as enduring well, but they just keep moving forward, taking one step at a time.  There are times when I personally have felt like the little engine trying to get up the mountain pulling a heavy load, saying to myself, "I think I can, I think I can."

When we are feeling overwhelmed with the burdens that either we carry ourselves or someone we love is carrying, here are some principles to keep in mind: no one can take away your personal challenges from you, but we can support and love each other through this difficult journey called life.  Be kind to each other because you may not know the heartaches someone else is suffering.  As you are helping others, your own burdens seem to lighten, and don't forget that it's ok to let others help lift you.  Let's be each other's cheerleaders!  We need each other!

REMEMBER YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!