“It’s going to be okay.” I can’t say these five little words enough. This morning comfort was needed in abundance. Today we all woke up to disappointment.
Have you ever waited for something, got your hopes up, planned, only to find out your trip was canceled, or you couldn’t go? I don’t know about you but disappointment is one of the hardest to bear. The feeling is all consuming. It starts in the stomach, and the stomach some how grabs and pulls on the heart, and then the heart grabs the eyes which then brings the tears. The weight of unmet expectations and unfairness almost breaks the soul.
Thursday was to be the first day back to school for my kids. The first day, of in person, school since the pandemic started. Wednesday we were told a snow storm was coming. I told the kids of the storm. They canceled all school on Thursday. They were sad, but held hope for today. Last evening we packed lunches, took showers, laid out clothes, and got to bed on time to be prepped for… what my kids have been waiting for… the first day of school.
At 5:30 a.m. I got a text message: “All virtual instruction today due to weather.”
I text my oldest daughter the news. She was already stirring. “Dang it! I’m going back to bed.” Was her reply. I knew she was disappointed. She was excited to get out of the house and see the middle again since next year she heads to the high school.
I got up and went down stairs to await the other two. It was only a matter of time till I had to break the news to them. Nealy was the first to come down. “Do we have school today?” She was excited.
“No, I’m sorry honey.” Big tears filled her eyes and began to fall down her face.
“I waited all year for this! Satan did this!” She exclaimed and stomped her feet. Then she ran into my arms and sobbed. My husband, now in the chair opposite me, and I met eyes and hung our heads. We were dealing with our own disappointments, but some how her burden felt bigger than ours. I comforted her and let her cry. As she calmed down. I then explained that God was in charge of our lives and that we should not give the enemy too much credit. “God did this?” she stammered.
“Gods ways are not our ways. His plans are not our plans. We are at His mercy. We can be sure to count on His comfort and provisions. Let’s not look for something to blame. Let’s feel our feelings and seek comfort.” I then sent her to go get dressed, and in came her brother. He saw his sister was upset and he ran into the other room.
I went to check on him. He was in a ball sobbing. I comforted him.
I let both kids let it all out. They yelled, they screamed it wasn’t fair. They told me how hard life’s been for the last year. I held them and I validated all their woes. I knew what they were feeling, I am used to disappoint. They are just getting familiar with it. My heart broke for them.
When they settled down, I said, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll make hot cocoa, soft pretzels, and I’ll make a fire in the fire place today. Lets all have virtual school together in the TV room around the fire. I’ll make it cozy.”
This year has been full of cozy days, so with heavy heads they looked up at me and tried to smile.
Maybe you too woke up to disappointment today. I am sorry. It has been a very difficult unique year. No one could have prepared for it. We have all faced big disappointments. Some of us bigger than others. “It’s going to be okay.” I pray Dear Reader that you find comfort in God today.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NIV
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