A word that has been not only on my mind but present in my life is the word suffering.
Since the past year 2020 and 2021 as a collective world and it peoples, we have endured and gone through a lot of pain and suffering like never before in our own lifetimes for those younger than most elderly people who went through other hardships and wars. Though we have all experienced some type of suffering through illnesses, death of loved ones, loss of livelyhood, ect.
There is no escaping suffering, it is part of life, I have come to realize. From the beginning of creation when the first man and woman (Adam and Eve) sinned (or broke the rules) suffering was our lot. This was not God’s intent for humanity. Before all this there was an open communion and friendship with God, which Adam and Even enjoyed. But after the fall life changed, to be brief.
But God sent us his only Son to die and take our place to py our penalty for our sins before God and given us purpose for this life and has equiped us to be able to overcome suffering and endure the hard times as well as enjoy the good times.
Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
John 16:33 ESV
I like what Helen Keller says, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming it.”
Helen Keller
She had a lot of hope and optimism for the future.
She lost her sight and hearing at the age of nineteen months, but her parents looked after her and looked for ways to make her have a better quality of life by helping her become independent and they assigned her a tutor/teacher Anne Sullivan who taught her to sign and to be able to understand the meaning and relation between words and the physical world. She later became her companion.
She later as an adult became an American author, disabilities rights advocate, political activist and lecturer.
I find it very inspiring and interesting how she as a person who had gone through many troubles in her life and having a disability, she was a very optimistic person and seems to have had a love for life.
This is what we should aim for when suffering is in our lives. To be grateful for the most mundane things that God has given us, to know that we only have this life, and that though at times things are tough we can know that God will use them for our own good.
His plans are good plans, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11 (paraphrasing)
My dear friends, I hope somehow we can can find joy and pleasure in nature and be kind one to another.
I leave you with the words from Buddy the Elf, from the movie Elf:
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
Buddy the Elf, from the movie “Elf”
It’s not Christmas yet but let’s always sing outloud, give a smile, or a hug. And may we find comfort in Jesus for he has overcome the world!
Best wishes and many blessing to you.
Sara R.
SARARODMO 