Life is hard...
Life is hard. Not all the time. Just sometimes. I'm not sure if everyone would agree with that statement. But from my own experience, and my experience of watching close friends...it's definitely true.
Sometimes the challenges in life have everything to do with our age and the stage of life we are in. For example, when I was 35 years old, life was hard because I had a husband that travelled 75% of the time and two boys that were very active in multiple sports that required me to be in two places at one time. When I was 21, life was hard because my boyfriend was gone on a mission for our church and I hadn't seen him in 18 months. I had graduated from college with a bachelors degree and had an extremely mediocre job. After my rent and car payment, I had $200 to live on for the month. When I was 38, life was hard because my husband was looking for a job and my second son was diagnosed with a neurological disorder. When I was 48, life was hard because my oldest son was getting married. I didn't know how to let go and love at the same time.
And other times life is hard just because its hard and it has nothing to do with your age. Life is hard when other people's choices affect you. Life is hard when sickness is involved. My personal faith tells me that life is meant to be hard, and full of joy. There is more joy in my life after I've gone through these difficult moments (and they didn't feel like moments...they felt like decades.)
Today's Sweet Fringe Benefit is understanding and compassion. I recognize that my life is pretty sweet. Pretty charmed. That my "Life is hard" moments haven't really been that difficult compared to some of my friend's "Life is hard" moments. But I know that that is part of the grand plan of happiness that God has given us. We can help each other through "Life is hard" moments. We don't compare, we don't envy, we don't gloat, we don't point a finger. We love, we support, we listen, and we forget. I have been on both sides of the giving and taking in "Life is hard" moments. I just know we are not meant to get through them by ourselves.
Outfit of the Day: JCP navy ponte knit blazer, Loft tan linen t-shirt, Ann Taylor navy/cream floral pants, JCrew factory statement necklace.
I know this is cryptic. Just something I've been thinking about lately. As I said in my first blog post about daily Sweet Fringe Benefits, "some will be shallow and some will be deeper more spiritual." Usually my sfb's are lighter in nature and ofttimes a bit tongue in cheek. Not today...
Sometimes the challenges in life have everything to do with our age and the stage of life we are in. For example, when I was 35 years old, life was hard because I had a husband that travelled 75% of the time and two boys that were very active in multiple sports that required me to be in two places at one time. When I was 21, life was hard because my boyfriend was gone on a mission for our church and I hadn't seen him in 18 months. I had graduated from college with a bachelors degree and had an extremely mediocre job. After my rent and car payment, I had $200 to live on for the month. When I was 38, life was hard because my husband was looking for a job and my second son was diagnosed with a neurological disorder. When I was 48, life was hard because my oldest son was getting married. I didn't know how to let go and love at the same time.
And other times life is hard just because its hard and it has nothing to do with your age. Life is hard when other people's choices affect you. Life is hard when sickness is involved. My personal faith tells me that life is meant to be hard, and full of joy. There is more joy in my life after I've gone through these difficult moments (and they didn't feel like moments...they felt like decades.)
Today's Sweet Fringe Benefit is understanding and compassion. I recognize that my life is pretty sweet. Pretty charmed. That my "Life is hard" moments haven't really been that difficult compared to some of my friend's "Life is hard" moments. But I know that that is part of the grand plan of happiness that God has given us. We can help each other through "Life is hard" moments. We don't compare, we don't envy, we don't gloat, we don't point a finger. We love, we support, we listen, and we forget. I have been on both sides of the giving and taking in "Life is hard" moments. I just know we are not meant to get through them by ourselves.
I know this is cryptic. Just something I've been thinking about lately. As I said in my first blog post about daily Sweet Fringe Benefits, "some will be shallow and some will be deeper more spiritual." Usually my sfb's are lighter in nature and ofttimes a bit tongue in cheek. Not today...
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What is the best Sweet Fringe Benefit of your age?