Someone asked me what I do when I feel like giving up. I do a few things. I pray, I light candles to remind me to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel and I listen to some rock music. Rock music, in its own way always inspires me and reminds me the best is yet to come. Amongst my favorites are Johnny Nash’s song “I Can See Clearly Nos, Sly and the Family Stone’s “You Can Make It If You Try, Bob Dylan’s, “I Shall Be Released”, and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” They all have a common theme. No matter what is going on in my life, the best is yet to come. As the song says all of the bad feelings will wash away and I will see clearly now because the rain has come.
This song applies to so many aspects of daily life and even applies to me personally. As some of you know I sell Pampered Chef in my spare time and in eight months have managed to promote three times. This month has been a bit of a challenge and I have had to work hard to stay hopeful. This afternoon reminded me of the saying that the opera isn’t over until the fat lady sings. Sometimes things seem dismal and hopeless, until something unexpected happens and turns things around and then we remember how important it is to stay hopeful in the midst of the storm.
See once the rain in our life is gone, whatever that rain is, we can see clearly. We can remember there is a solution to all problems. Sometimes we just can’t see it because our fear of (fill in the blank) is keeping us from remembering that the Higher Power who has brought us through so much is going to bring us through the present situation as well. We forget to draw on the positive thinking that is so easy to maintain when things are good and we are journeying through days filled with good news.
My son reminded me of the advice I gave him when he would be sad because I would have to take him back to the facility where he lived. I would say, “Good times will end, but they will happen again.” That remembering that the good times would be back gave him the hope to make it through to the next time we got to pick him up and bring him home with us.
Today, he continues to remind me about practicing hope. He has been waiting for 2 years to move into a group home. Bureaucratic challenges keep him from moving. He says to me now, “It’s ok Mom. I have all I need for now, and the best is yet to come. There is so much to be happy and hopeful for in my life, why should I spend time worrying about stuff I can’t do anything about.”
You have to love it when your kids remind you about faith and hope. When they remind you to have a good cry and clear the rain out of your head, so you can see the situation clearly, again. We all go through times in our life that are easier than others, the important thing is to remember that it is not permanent. This too shall pass and then we will see clearly again.