During these days of COVID-19, many of us are reflecting on so many things. Reflecting, for some, can move into the area of worrying. When my thoughts moved to what I call worry, it made me think about the past days of struggling when worry used to be a constant guest in my mind.
Practically raising 3 children alone for most of their lives, I found myself in situations that felt what some people might experience in March or April 2020. due to the pandemic. Remembering days when I didn’t think I could make it emotionally, mentally, financially, or spiritually- it has given me a sense of confidence and encouragement that I will also survive this.
What’s happening as I write this is surreal and magnified worldwide. But when I faced dark days of loneliness and fear, the world in itself couldn’t relate. Even when the world can relate to some of what we experience as a whole, it is simply not the same when it’s your children, your parents, your job, your spouse, your health, your grief, your hunger, your bills, your divorce or wherever your circumstance finds you. It is NOT the same. We all handle adversity differently, this post is how Just Kissie found a way through some by 3 simple techniques:
- Pause – take time before you think, study, and plan your next steps to achieve success.
- Pray – my grandfather gave me this advice many years ago before my pending divorce. He told me there are 3 things to do when I face uncertainties and because he was such a wise man, I gave full attention to the words I thought my heart was yearning for. He told me the first thing I should do is pray, and in my mind, I was thinking, “Check, what’s next?!” He went on to tell me the next thing to do was to pray and when I finished that- pray again. It’s funny and not the type of advice you want when hardship is at your door. But, it is the advice that will bring you peace and open to peaceful guidance.
- Push – keep going. Every heartache and heartbreak got easier to deal with by living. I had to keep going. Some days were still hard, but they got better and I got stronger by pushing through because I wanted it all behind me.
I’m done for now, but let me leave you with this.
‘We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We often don’t know what to do, but we don’t give up. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed. ‘ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9