This past week has been a real challenge for me. My husband has a condominium on the outskirts of Chicago that we only get back to check on occasionally. However, due to some damage that it had sustained from a fire and a flood, on two different occasions in his building, it was time for us to go and assess the situation to see what needed to be done. We knew our hands would be full of cleaning up, throwing away items, and just figuring out what needed to be our next steps, but when we arrived, we had no idea that we were also going to face sweltering heat, rain, and a tornado. I am a California girl, and I am not used to tornadoes, even if they are considered small or light ones.
Furthermore, our cable was not working so we had no landline phone, internet, or television. My husband was about to have a fit when he could not watch his sports! We found out the HVAC had electrical problems, so we had no air conditioning, and our car was out of commission flat tires and all, so we had to get it towed. The list goes on a little longer, but I will not bore you with the rest of the details. What came to my mind during all of this was the fact that in times like these we are challenged to see what we are made of and whether we are willing to do what needs to be done when it is so easy to just throw in the towel. I knew I needed to be there to help and support my husband through this season so instead of complaining, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. I am not afraid of manual labor, but let’s keep it real, I am in my 60s and I am a girl at heart, so this kind of work is not top of the list for me, but when things need to get done it is up to us to get it done.
This mindset pertains to things other than just manual labor. While we were away when we got tired from the work we were dealing with, we started watching whatever we could find on old DVDs he had lying around. My choices were either sports highlights, westerns, or Civil War period movies. We ended up watching a lot of war movies. As I reflected on what was happening over a hundred and fifty years ago right here in our own country, we are still dealing with some of the same issues. Truthfully, we are a divided country that is yet to be united as one. In times like these, we are witnessing a lot of hatred towards others and sometimes even families are on opposite sides of the fence on issues that affect all of us as a nation. The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of being in harmony with one another and striving for peace over warfare. The question is what are each of us doing to help make this possible?
Extending olive branches instead of throwing stones does not mean we have to agree with each other on everything, but it does mean we should try and show kindness and respect towards one another in how we communicate and interact with one another. In war, the key things armies try to do is destroy the ability for their opponent to communicate and they try to take down bridges to limit their access to travel and gain ground. The same thing is happening during this political season. Let us try and be the light in this darkness by being peacemakers in times of conflict. In times like these, we may not be able to solve all the world’s problems, but we can roll up our sleeves and do what we can right where we are planted. One by one we can work on getting the job done. #challenges #dontgiveup #pressforward
Healing Without Hate: It’s a choice. It’s a lifestyle. Pass it on.
Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more. Wendy is a life strategist, coach, consultant, author, and speaker.
Hello Wendy: Great article and great advice. Choose to be happy where you are no matter what. Things always work out sooner or later. Your feelings about the weather in Chicago is like the feelings most people have about California and experiencing an earthquake. I am glad you were about to experience being with William in Chicago. Stay blessed.
Richard Nichols