By Nichole Giles
It has become apparent during various seasons throughout my life that when it rains, it floods. Trials don’t come to us as a single pebble placed inside the toe of our shoe, but more as a rockslide that buries you to the waist, shoulders, or neck.
Fortunately for my family, our current issues fall in the minor category, though nonetheless, they remain heavy and bothersome. I’ll take enormous medical bills, a broken washer and drier, the need for new tires, teenage braces, and a basement flood any day, as long as it means my family members aren’t dying or fighting off deadly diseases. I’ll even take them over sick children and IRS audits.
The things going wrong with us are fixable, broken things replaceable—and since they all pile on at once, I have faith that we’ll find a way to pay for it all. Somehow.
And extended family member of mine has been known to say, “I’d trade trials with just about anyone I know. My life is so much harder than theirs.”
What a sad attitude to take. If not for these experiences, how would we ever learn who we are or how we react under pressure? How else would we grow and become better people?
Without life experiences we are no different from robots.
If not for the hardships, loves, sadness and joy in life, I would have nothing to write about. Harvesting these stories isn’t easy, but when I do, I’m reminded of lessons, miracles, and emotions I might otherwise have forgotten.
I want to experience life—to feel things and know that even the little, bothersome things will someday matter in the grand scheme of my life. But no, I wouldn’t trade places with anyone. Not for a thing!
It has become apparent during various seasons throughout my life that when it rains, it floods. Trials don’t come to us as a single pebble placed inside the toe of our shoe, but more as a rockslide that buries you to the waist, shoulders, or neck.
Fortunately for my family, our current issues fall in the minor category, though nonetheless, they remain heavy and bothersome. I’ll take enormous medical bills, a broken washer and drier, the need for new tires, teenage braces, and a basement flood any day, as long as it means my family members aren’t dying or fighting off deadly diseases. I’ll even take them over sick children and IRS audits.
The things going wrong with us are fixable, broken things replaceable—and since they all pile on at once, I have faith that we’ll find a way to pay for it all. Somehow.
And extended family member of mine has been known to say, “I’d trade trials with just about anyone I know. My life is so much harder than theirs.”
What a sad attitude to take. If not for these experiences, how would we ever learn who we are or how we react under pressure? How else would we grow and become better people?
Without life experiences we are no different from robots.
If not for the hardships, loves, sadness and joy in life, I would have nothing to write about. Harvesting these stories isn’t easy, but when I do, I’m reminded of lessons, miracles, and emotions I might otherwise have forgotten.
I want to experience life—to feel things and know that even the little, bothersome things will someday matter in the grand scheme of my life. But no, I wouldn’t trade places with anyone. Not for a thing!
4 comments:
Yes, I have to admit, I've had times where I said, "Why me?" and felt like I really was the most burdened person in the world. And I'm sure anyone would look at those trials and agree that they were, indeed, very difficult.
But when I look close at other people I know, they have had trials just as hard. Different, but hard.
Funny, I'm listening to "Lucky" by Jason Mraz on your playlist as I'm writing this. And, you know, there are times when I look at my life and realize just how lucky I am. All my kids are healthy, my husband and I are healthy, he has a good job, we have a nice house and two cars and a house in the suburbs. I mean, come on. Not to trivialize the trials I've had, but isn't it better to look on the good? Because there's so much of it!
I mean, hello! Indoor heat. Need I say more? :D
Thanks for the reminder.
LOL Nichole. You are a very wise woman.
Thanks for this reminder, Nichole - you are so right. And I love the new template, too! Can I ask - when you changed it, did you keep your sidebar information, or did you have to reload all that?
Tristi,
I change my background about once a month and almost never have to reinstall anything--though I do update most of it. There was once when my playlist errored but I was changing it anyway.
Glad you like like it!
Nichole
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