A post on facebook of a mutual friend a few days back made me stop and really think about how much of life is a struggle in some form or another. Everyone has different things that they struggle with, many on a daily basis.
The gist of the post was simple. This friend was picking up a kiddo and transporting him home as a favor since the parents had a conflict that came up at the last minute. A struggle of their own, that necessitated the village that raises a child to step in and do what was needed. The kiddo got into the car and was impressed. He said he wished his parents had a car like hers which the friend told him that one day they would be able to have a nice vehicle. Then he asked her a question that really made her pause. His question was, "Have you ever really struggled?"
Coming from a child this really is eye opening. Their perspective is so much different and often lends so much clarity that it simply cannot be ignored. She answered him that yes she had struggled in her life and continues to struggle with things daily. There was no way for this kiddo to know that indeed many things in life come to us after hard won victories which resulted from some type of struggle. It makes it eye opening because one person may seem to have it all, or have it 'easy', when in fact what they have is the results or fruits if you will of many hard earned struggles throughout life.
Many people today are struggling with so many issues in their lives. Some financial, some emotional, some health related. There are so many areas that struggle can arise from. Some can be resolved individually, but often we need help in finding our way out of these jams that arise in life.
If you think about it, the struggles we encounter in our lives shape us into who we are and who we become. It is how we deal with them and learn from them that guide our paths. We need to teach our children to see struggling not as negative but as a positive thing that can be learned from. We need to teach them how to be creative thinkers and how to deal with the issues that arise in ways that help them grow and be ready to face the next challenge.
What types of things are you personally struggling with? Do you have someone you can talk to about them?
I think for a majority of us, our struggles are mild irritants and inconveniences. But yes, even those struggles define and shape us. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I try to think of my struggles, especially after the fact often as blessings in disguise. Thanks for stopping by!
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