One of my biggest goals in this life is to encourage others as we enjoy the adventures together. Oh yes, I know that not all adventures are enjoyable – some are sad/mad/bad and others downright painful. But, even in emotional storms there is room for hope.

Depression can, and will, hit all of us at some times in our lives.

To make matters worse, the despair seems often to get tangled up with guilt. You know that feeling right? We feel down and discouraged. When not immediately able to ‘snap out of it’ we may turn on ourselves with thoughts that we ‘should’ be able to do so. What’s wrong with us anyway ? Don’t we have any faith? And, how can we expect God to be pleased with us when we’re so weak – and miserable. Might He just want to wash His hands of our repeated mess?

I recently shared a memory in a conversation about these topics:

My (then) two year old grand daughter woke from a car ride feeling miserable. She staggered into the kitchen and then threw up all over herself and the floor. I told her not to move as I ran to get towels to clean her up and make her comfortable. She, of course completely ignored my instruction.

As she tried to follow me, she repeated her sickness and then slipped and fell into the bigger mess. She rolled a bit as she struggled to get up. With her scooped up into my arms and heading to the bathroom – I had a very calm and divine inner conversation:

‘It’s a mess isn’t it? ‘

Yes, indeed it is.

‘She didn’t listen to you.’

No – she didn’t.

So, she made a terrific mess, disobeyed your instructions, and made it even worse didn’t she? And, you hate this kind of mess don’t you?’

Yep, it stinks and makes me nauseous.

‘Do you hate her now for making it?’

Of course not – I love her. All I want to do is clean her up and comfort her.

‘Hmmm, love does that doesn’t it? Now, if you can feel love and compassion for her, how much more am I able to feel for you – when you are rolling around in your own messes?’

Yes Lord, I get it. What a wonder to know that we are loved, messy or not. We don’t have to clean ourselves up before we can turn to our Loving Father. If we did, we’d never receive the grace and comfort and love He so generously offers … we’d never qualify.

In the midst of our disappointment – we can trust that we are loved, even when we can’t feel it. We can know that we’re not alone – even when we do feel that; and we can let go of our guilt for the should haves/could haves/ would haves of our emotions.

Romans 5:8

‘But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’

Blessings, Love and Laughter

Margaret