Dear Friend Who Is Struggling

A blog I’ve seen produced a series of letters to moms. I read “Dear sweet mom who feels like she is failing…” and enjoyed it. I’ve written a letter to myself before and found it helpful, so here is my letter today!

I guess the last few weeks have been a bit of a “struggle” here. Overall I’m recovering well from my ectopic pregnancy and surgery, but I’ve learned some days are up and some down. And it doesn’t help when it’s cold, dark, and rainy, all day in June. In North Carolina. What the heck.

So here’s my letter today.

To me, and to you, when life is hard.

Dear friend who is struggling,

Has it been a rough patch? I’m sorry. I know: life feels draining, and monotonous, and fearful right now. But remember this…

• This, too, shall pass. You’ll make it out of these clouds. And you’ll even look back with fondness. It’s hard to believe, but one day you’ll treasure the memories of friends who have helped, of times near to Him, of growth and stretching and lessons you’re getting. The sun will shine, and the rain will stop, and life will look brighter.
• Loss has many faces. Pain isn’t one-dimensional. Sometimes grief is grief, but other times it’s a flood of tears at losing the car keys, guilt over some task unfinished, worry over something silly, disproportionate anger at someone who let you down. Pain wears many faces. You can’t get rid of the negative emotions, but at least relax and remind yourself that all those little stresses are magnified when life is hard. It all feels harder right now.
• Remember the body mirrors the soul. You feel tired, I bet. That headache, and can’t-sleep-ness, and stomach queasiness? Never forget how the soul impacts the body. So sleep, and eat, and sleep and eat some more. And heal. You’ll be better soon.
• Don’t forget about others. Remember Corrie ten Boom’s mom? Remember how she had a stroke, and couldn’t talk, and that didn’t stop her for a minute from loving? Be like that. Right now, this instant, there’s someone you know who is hurting. Pray. Pray for them, and pray for grace to do a small thing to help.
• Give yourself grace. Now is not the time to analyze (and fix) your budget, or your closet, or your undone projects. Everything looks worse, and more frightening, and more monumental than it really is. For now, just live. Just laugh at your kids, and give them lunch when they’re hungry, and listen to their stories, and put one foot in front of the other. That’s enough for now.
• But if you do nothing else, come to Jesus. You can come with a whisper, or whimper, or two-sentence prayer. You can come grumpy, and confused, and guilt-ridden. Just come. I know it feels – like everything else – a chore, to try to hear from God. The thing is, his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Whatever small step you can muster to read his words, do it. He’s near to the tired, and brokenhearted, and helpless.

Hang in there, friend. It might be a cold and rainy day in June, but real summer’s coming. 🙂

Love,

Jessica

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