It seemed to have been a bad day.
My teenage son sat at dinner and told me he’d walked to the bus that morning in the slush and rain, soaking his shoes right through. He felt just mediocre about how his classes had gone and then said,
“Coach was yelling at me a lot during practice.”
“What about?” I asked.
“Keeping my back straighter.”
My son is a novice rower, and learning the correct technique is what this year is all about.
“Was he disparaging or encouraging?”
“Mmm. Encouraging,” he admitted.
“He wants you to get better?”
My son nodded.
“And did he single you out, or was he yelling at others too?”
“He was yelling at others too.”
“Right. I see. You know, I heard on the radio today that the average American has 60 bad days a year. That’s slightly more than 1 per week.”
My son looked up from his plate and gave me a begrudging grin.
I left it at that.
Sometimes we need to hear a few well-placed questions and a relevant tidbit to help us turn our perspective slightly, from a jaded to a more positive point of view.
The same is true in the spiritual life. If I consider all my trials as personal attacks, I will become disheartened.
But if I recognize that in my human condition I am not alone in my suffering, I can take a step toward seeing things more clearly.
There is Someone Who is willing to carry my burdens for me and give me His strength in return for my trust in Him. I can draw new strength from Him to carry on, and someday He will show me the reasons for my trials.
Cast your care upon the Lord,
Who will give you support.
God will never allow
The righteous one to stumble.
(Psalm 55:23)
