“If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high. Look it squarely in the eye, and say, ‘I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.’ Then repeat to yourself the most comforting words of all, ‘This too shall pass.’

-Ann Landers

Yesterday I was sitting in church happily chewing my gum, when BAM…….out of nowhere a crown I have on one of my teeth fell out and it took my whole tooth with it.  That’s right, the whole tooth.  I looked at my kids as I was internally flipping out, and all three of my boys and my husband busted up laughing.  Laughing! I told them this was not funny at all, I have no tooth, and I am leaving.  There was no way I was going to talk to anyone at this point.  My husband was like who cares, just stay, it is what it is.  Needless to say I did NOT take his advice, and I left my kids and husband on the church bench and I bailed.

I still have no tooth today.  Dentists are all on vacation for the Holidays, go figure.  As I have had time to contemplate, I realized what my husband said is true.  It is what it is, and there’s nothing I can do right now, so I should turn my focus and attention to more important things.  

As I have gotten older, I have accepted the fact that things do go wrong. I am not invincible, nor are the people around me.

Whatever the changes or situations in ones life may be, no matter how hard they come at you, you are strong enough to stand up to them.  My Mom always told me throughout my life, whenever I was going through a difficult time, “This too shall pass.”  I recalled saying this over and over while being pregnant and sick.  And when my kids were being difficult. And when I was in the throws of anxiety and depression. And when I helped care for my Mom in her last days.  “This too shall pass.”  That doesn’t mean it will be easy.  That doesn’t mean you won’t have to put forth some grueling and difficult days while waiting for the storms to calm.  It also doesn’t mean that the ending of your story ends in the way you envisioned or hoped, but it will end.  Hope, if you let it burn bright, never dies.  Then that flame of hope turns into a brilliant and bright light of illuminating  faith, and when one has faith, the once seemingly impossible suddenly becomes possible.  The faith filled person will find the silver lining in whatever the outcome.  It may be hard, but you can do hard things.  

With the close of this blessed year, may we all stop looking in the rear view mirror, and look ahead out of the big front window of possibilities.  Know that you are made of Heavenly material, a spiritual being with majestic forces on your side, and your Heavenly help with not let you fail.  Be grateful, embrace hope and faith, and never forget my Mom’s scriptural advice of,

“This too shall pass.”

Hope On.

Journey On.

Jenna

P.S. We have been on a bit of a hiatus here at Show Up For Life, but we are back for 2015 and we are excited to share with you new and exciting things.

Happy New Year!