Is it really all that bad?

Boy, can we have some bad days. We think it's a bad day before our feet hit the floor. Maybe we must rise up early and we didn't get any rest. Then we find ourselves crabby all day long. That sure isn't fun for those around us.

We can wake not feeling well. Maybe by lunch time the rain is pouring and the streets are flooding and now water in the basement is rising by the inch. We head out to the car after a long days work and what do you know, it won't start. No one is available when we call for help, so what in the world are we to do now?

Our hair is crazy in the wind and we are on our way to get pictures. The baby just spit up all over our new sweater and the tears begin to stream. The chores are piling up and now it's time for dinner and we forgot to go to the store.

The car payment is due and as you get ready to write out that check you realize your account is empty. The dog just made a mess and the kids have now destroyed the room you have worked on for hours. Can we go on?

We think we are having a bad day until something worse happens. After a trip to the ER that dog poo doesn't seem so bad. After receiving that call from your mother that your dad is now ready for chemo treatments, the house no longer matters. When you husband walks through the door and has his last paycheck in hand, the grocery shopping on top of chores doesn't seem so bad any longer.

The cat gets hit by a car and your children are in tears. You think your morning has started out bad, but now your doctor calls with the results of your mammogram and they have found a lump. The cat no longer matters.

Our bad days are most likely good days for someone else. Think about it. Yes, things can always be worse, but we really don't think about that when we are desperate for some calm from the storm. We think we have totally hit bottom, but another friend is quickly sinking. Yesterday's bad news has nothing on what your facing today.

I can wake looking at the circumstances facing me and I can begin to think really quickly that it is a bad day forming. One that I wish I could pass up, but then I think of all the children at Children's Hospital and their parents surrounding them. I think of the Alzheimer's patients my daughter sees daily at work and their families that feel such loss. There are people losing their homes on a daily basis in this country. In other countries people don't even know what it is to have a home, much less a shack.

While I complain about not having crackers for my soup there is a hungry family somewhere searching for nibbles to fill them for the night. Can you see the tears across our world? Is it possible to even fathom the hurt and desperation around the world?

We see wives losing their husbands in a war that is senseless. Parents burying their children after they have committed suicide after being bullied. Tornadoes and hurricanes reaching ground around us. Earthquakes killing thousands and genocide by the millions. Women and children being sold in this world as sex slaves. Think slavery has come to an end? Think again.

So as we look at our comfortable lives are we really having a bad day?

Someone is losing their parent, child, sibling or friend today. A car crash takes the life of an innocent family as one makes the worst decision in his life to drive after that party.

We all have bad days, but is it really that bad? Should we really complain after all? The Lord says different. He says, "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember the Lord is coming soon." Philippians 4:4-5

He also says, "Do everything without complaining and arguing." Philippians 2:14a

Whether we see it or not, the sun is always shining. That's right, the Son is always shining! When we have Jesus there is nothing to fear. He knows what is before us and He too knows just what we need to get through. Our problem? We look at our circumstances instead of being focused on Him. We think a good day has to be perfect in our eyes to be called good. But remember we have a God that can turn ashes into beauty. Just what if the Lord is moving through those not so good days to reach others and to change us to look more like Him? Doesn't He always have a purpose and a plan?

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me." Jeremiah 29:11-13

We have become so spoiled in our ways. We don't look at what's going on in the lives of those around us. Let's be honest. As long as everything is good with us, we think life is pretty good! Until that is, we really have do have a bad day. But again, our bad day is an other's good day. So, lets keep our perspective and always go before the Lord asking Him to prepare our hearts and minds for ALL He has for us.

That day soon comes where you are wishing for that bad day of the flat tire, the crying baby and the dirty dishes taking over your kitchen. Tragedy strikes and we find ourselves now realizing last week wasn't so bad after all. Could we please have it back? Those piled up emails and that report that is lost sure doesn't seem time consuming when your now pacing the halls of the hospital. That arguement with our husband just seems silly by now, doesn't it? What was it even about?

May we learn to appriciate ALL that touches our life. Might we be able to be content in our day and search for the blessings that are not really hidden at all, but right under our noses. Let's give praise, for we have a God who is always in control.

"Sing a new song of praise to Him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. For the Word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust EVERYTHING He does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth." Psalm 33:3-5