The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day…Week…Month…Year…

It doesn’t really matter the circumstances or the specifics…I am sure we have all had what seems to be the MOST terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day…week…month…year…or season in our life. We most likely felt like we were the only one undergoing such difficulties. It is so hard to keep a positive perspective during a horrible situation, especially when things seem to go from bad to worse. It is even harder to remember that trials are allowed by God in our life to refine our character. So how are we to respond in the midst of a really terrible day filled with frustration, anger, disappointment, hurt, fear…..the list of things that make up a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day” is endless.

It is hard to keep our cool and be kind when we have been unjustly wronged and inconvenienced. It is almost impossible to see the bright side when we are terribly disappointed in someone or when something doesn’t go as we planned. Harder still is knowing how to respond to the news of the death of a friend or relative. And when those situations produce a season of hurt, disappointment and pain that seems to last forever, we find it nearly impossible to cope at times.

I have been in a season of polar opposite emotions…from mountain top experiences of EXCITEMENT in our growing family, to deep loss and SADNESS.  I have experienced the loss of two dear friends in the past few weeks right on the heals of loosing my dad and my favorite uncle. Yet during this same season, I have been blessed with two new sons-in-law and many beautiful grandchildren. All around me friends are experiencing both of these types of joys and sorrows and yet we are finding ways to carry on. But I am not immune to the day to day challenges that life brings that are often times even more difficult to react and respond to appropriately than the big hardships.

Today I vicariously experienced a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day” as I texted back and forth with one of my daughters. (I will give her the privilege of sharing the details about her day-everyone is safe and healthy, but it became a horrible day after I dropped her off at the airport!!!!!) I learned many things about myself….I do not like injustice inflicted on my children and grandchildren….I do not like living far away from my children and grandchildren…I like to solve problems and get to the bottom of who, why and what was the cause of the bad treatment of the above mentioned precious ones….I would MUCH rather be the one experiencing the terrible day than anyone I love……I need a constant supply of heavenly grace, forgiveness and willingness to TRUST God for all circumstances that are out of my control!!!

It seems truly impossible to have a “horrible day” with this little person keeping you company!

Or this one…but it did happen….not because of them, it just happened…

The New Living Translation of the book of Romans 5:3-5 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love.”

So today, my take home lesson for my life is to be prepared for trials at all times and when they come into my life or into the lives of those I love…I need to pray hard and have hope that these trials will produce strengthened character and remind me to keep my perspective focused on the big picture. I will remember that even the MOST “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day” comes to an end and at the end of that day, I have my faith in a great God who loves me and I have an awesome family! And I must trust that my great God will take care of those I love and that through the “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day” their character will have an opportunity to grow and be strengthened!!!

What do you do when you have one of those “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days”?

And if any of you has not read the book by Judith Viorst called “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” you might want to pick up a copy.)