It is a beautiful day outside. I should feel more joyful. My bedroom windows are open, and nothing is keeping me from stepping outside and enjoying God’s gorgeous Spring day; but, here I sit.
Some days, it is beyond difficult to see the blessings in the mundane tasks of life. Right now my sink of dirty dishes is overwhelming me and I would actually rather climb a mountain than attack that mountain of laundry.
I am willing to bare my weary soul today because I know I am not alone, and I want others to realize they are not alone. Some days we struggle. Getting out of bed. Finding the will to do the same job over and over. Seeing little payoff for our efforts. These days come, and when they do it can feel like no one else in the world ever struggles but you.
This is the point when I am supposed to tell you what to do to overcome those moments. Talk to a friend. Pray. Get out and enjoy a hobby. All that advice is good, but my message today is simply: You are not alone.
Everyone struggles.
Even those who make a living off of being strong: presidents, college professors, CEOs, relationship coaches – we all have trying days. Days where we wonder if we made the right decisions… took the right path… pursued the right passions. Days that seem darker than they logically should.
Tomorrow, I expect I will be smiling again. Thankful for all the wonderful blessings God has bestowed upon me. Thankful for my husband. Thankful for my family. Thankful for my friends. Thankful for PreEngaged and the opportunity to work with so many incredible couples. My gratitude is within me. It is only occasionally eclipsed by the typical struggles of life. The fatigue. The heaviness. The unanswered questions.
In the meantime, I am going to keep typing. Keep cleaning. Keep pressing forward. Knowing in all my saddest days, I am never truly alone. I am surrounded by millions of people who are limping down the same road. Just knowing they are there brings tremendous comfort. The sound of people walking their dogs down my street. The squeals of little children playing. The hum of cars as they chauffeur their passengers to and from their destinations. We are all in this together.
As I go back about my less than glamorous tasks, I think of you, dear reader. You, studying six hours a day and wondering if it is all worth it. You are not alone and these days will not last forever. You, running after your toddler, desperately missing your old life and feeling completely guilty about it. You are not alone and millions of moms have been (and continue to be) where you are. You, working 80 hours a week to take care of your family and feeling completely underappreciated. You are not alone and your hard work is admirable. You, who just deleted your Facebook account because you cannot look at one more engagement announcement. You are not alone. Somewhere, maybe even in the same neighborhood, is battling a similar heartache.
A couple of months ago, I was driving home from Roanoke when a lady came on the radio and shared about her struggle with infertility. When she began her story, I mentally rolled my eyes and thought, “If she is going to tell us how it took her a whole four years to get pregnant, I do not want to hear it!” She continued to share her story, and before I knew it I was weeping. She and her husband waited on God for 20 years before He blessed them with their first child. A woman out there, someone I will probably never meet, was open about her struggle and her long season of waiting and hearing it made me feel less alone.
No matter the struggles you are facing, someone out there gets it. You may never know him or her, but someone in this world completely understands. And, more importantly, our Father in Heaven completely understands.
The next time you are having the kind of day I am having, comfort yourself by knowing you are in good company. Pour your heart out in prayer. And, if you ever just need to tell someone about your day, I am here.
Do you struggle with feeling like no one understands what you are going through?