The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Hanging In There: Means Looking UP!!

by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher/Owner
8 January 2003

It seems everywhere I look, whether it is TV, newspapers, neighbors, family and friends, there are people having a tough time in some way.

I know I can have a great several days or weeks and then all at once, one of those days will hit me.

I hear people talking about feeling anxious or restless and then I see people who just seem to have minds of steel where the house falling in wouldn't shake them.

With all the news of bombings and terrorists, talks of war, the bad economy, and then the Christmas bills coming in, need I mention medical bills, I would think even those made of steel might be expressing a little anger if not depression about life.

Well, what's a person to do? How can we hang in there when we slip into a valley and there doesn't seem to be a way out? My daughter was telling me that Satan loves to rob us of our joy. The minute something good happens he finds something bad for us to worry about, and if we dwell on it, it will get us every time.

So, the answer is, we can hang in there by looking up! That is, find out what's good in life and be thankful for it.

My daughter says most of the things we get frustrated over are temporary and won't last, yet we get frustrated over them - lost keys, a flat tire, or the dishes not done, spilt milk, or something broke. It really isn't going to matter in the long scheme of things.

Loneliness is a matter to be dealt with around the holidays. But if we can look at what we have instead of who's not here and how we miss them, we can really turn our attitudes around. Just look up, "count your blessings and name them one by one". It's an old song my mother use to sing. And, from the looks of her good attitude in the nursing home, I got a hunch she is still humming that tune.