Overcoming Your Circumstances

Robin in the snow

So, this is spring? Yes the snow is sloooowly melting, there are robins a’plenty, and geese flying north in a V. Yet after checking yet another disappointing ten-day forecast, I want to yell back to their honking, “Go back. You’re crazy - this is NOT spring! Come back in…” My words trail off- I’m not sure what to tell them. Maybe July. It can’t possibly be snowy and cold in July, right?

Whew! Usually springtime is an inspired time of cleaning, freshening up your life, and dreaming of all of the fun that summertime will bring. This year however, it’s an extension of winter-time blues and dreariness. Hmmm… time to travel somewhere warm? Just layer on tons of sweatshirts and pretend there’s not a frigid northwest breeze? Leave the shades open in the great room and sun myself like a salamander on a hot rock on some seaside cliff in Hawaii?

Or just forget it. Remember the idea, my circumstances don’t define me, but my attitude about my circumstances does? It’s kind of like, life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it. That could apply to just about any life scenario, not just the weather. “But it’s so hard, you say.” Yes, it probably is the hardest thing we do in life, but it’s also the most life-affirming thing we do. Our unconditionally bright and pleasant attitude in life is how we achieve despite the inevitable low blows that surprise us. The whole premise of the movie 'Life is Beautiful' is making lemonade out of lemons… bootcamp edition. Our life is beautiful if and when we choose to see it, hold it tight, and never let it go, no matter the trials at hand.

So, while I can’t promise golden sunshine and bright blue skies with warmer temperatures ahead (it HAS to get warmer though, right?!), I will leave you with some encouragement for the disappointments we all face in life. These are a few of the lyrics to one of my favorite songs you may have recently heard, “Blessings” by Laura Story.

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace.
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.
We pray for healing, for prosperity.
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering.

And all the while, You hear each spoken need;
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things.
‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise.

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win,
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home.
It’s not our home.

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy?
What if trials of this life-
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights-
Are your mercies in disguise?

 

Until next month,
Jill
Jill Murphy
Owner/Physical Therapist
MotionWorks Physical Therapy