It’s been a tough year this year. Both my mother and mother-in-law have had serious health problems. Both have had surgery. At one point, I was afraid my mother-in-law would die. We’ve had other very painful issues as well, and it is very easy to slip into depression.
When my sister said that, I realized that was precisely what I was doing. This depression is not like the illness, but it feels exactly the same. If we were going to get through these issues, I needed to do something and those were precisely the words that helped me.
Sad events and difficult times are always going to be around. That’s the way of the world. It’s how we approach them that defines us. Are we going to be the one that crumbles or the one who stands up and helps everyone else do the same?
The first thing I had to do was choose my mood. If you’ve ever worked yourself into any negative emotion such as anger or depression, you know how hard it is to let go of it. In circumstances like these, it has been a huge struggle, and not just for me.
My entire family has been affected. I suspect some of the other painful things have a direct relationship on the health of most of my relatives. This increases the stress levels enormously.
Sometimes, choosing your mood isn’t something you can do on your own. Don’t give in if you find yourself in this position, there is help. Friends, family and fellow church members have helped. They’ve let me cry on their shoulder, so to speak. That helps a lot.
Even that may not be enough. This is especially true if there’s been a death in the family or equally difficult situation. Your doctor can be very helpful under these circumstances. Medications can help you maintain control of your emotions enough to function properly.
Counseling may also be needed. You can tell a counselor things you can’t tell other people, especially family and friends. For one thing, they’re usually strangers, so you don’t have to worry about what they will think of you. For another, they’re well trained in helping you get back onto an even keel.
This *is* the day the Lord hath made. I *will* rejoice and be glad in it; even on the days that I really would rather not.