I made a stealth trip down to Florida this week to pack up my parent’s stuff and deliver them safely back home to New Hampshire.  No Mickey Mouse ears or Hawaiian shirts in the age of the pandemic.  This was a business trip.

The forecast called for 24 hours of straight rain.  Our expectations were properly set and we had work to do.  We stocked up on raincoats and umbrellas and, when the rain rolled in the next morning, it was not a surprise or a distraction.  Let’s get this bread!

We went about our daily chores, prepared everything for the trip out, and powered through the expected storm.  The final task of the day was taking the trash out to the front dumpsters, some 500 yards from the condo entrance.  I layered up again, raised my umbrella, and hunkered down for the deluge.

But, miraculously, the rain had stopped.  Relieved, I threw the bags over my shoulder and headed out into the beautiful evening.  And then I saw it.  On the horizon was the most glorious sunset I had ever witnessed!

I was prepared for 24 hours of rain.  So this sunset was even more breathtaking than usual.  I felt like someone was smiling down on me.  It was a moment to savor.

And so it is with every struggle in our lives.  When we are prepared for a battle, the smallest reprieve becomes an incredible joy.  We have to take the time to appreciate it.

Struggle Comes With Upside

We all go through struggles in life.   Family strife.  A loss of confidence.  Financial uncertainty.  A losing streak.  We don’t wish them upon anyone but these dark times are, for the most part, inevitable.  And therefore, we must be prepared to deal with them!  Mindset is everything!

If we recognize we are in a struggle, we won’t be as disappointed when the stark reality of our situation becomes apparent.  And we won’t be surprised by the hard work it takes to get us out of it.  The battle is on!  We will hunker down to find another job.  We will search for additional sources of income.  We will build our confidence.  We won’t expect things to be easy.  And we will keep working until we win.

And then a funny thing will happen.  We will see that our struggle, while painful, comes with some upside.  Little victories, whether they be financial or spiritual, will be so much sweeter.  Small moments of levity, whether they come from our children, our spouse, our family, or our friends, will be so much more hilarious and meaningful.  In short, if we are prepared for battle, our lives don’t have to be an endless struggle.  The little moments of joy along the way will add depth and meaning to our lives.  These moments will fuel our resilience and allow us to focus on the task at hand.

We Can’t Always Expect Sunshine

Imagine if the opposite were true.  We expect a life full of sunshine and gentle breezes.  We are not prepared when the storm comes racing in. That one hour of rain is more than we can take.  We feel like a victim and cannot handle the stress.  Why can’t I catch a break?  Why does it never work out for me?  We are so lost in misery that we don’t even notice or appreciate the beautiful sunset that always follows a quick storm.

That is not to say that our lives will always be 23 hours of rain.  I am not suggesting that we “always expect the worst”.  Quite the opposite.  We will have unbridled moments of joy and accomplishment.  We should always maintain hope and believe in the promise of a better tomorrow.  But we cannot expect a life free from hardship and sacrifice.  We will only be disappointed.  We should be prepared to work for our accomplishments.  That work and drive will allow us to truly appreciate the glorious moments along our journey.

Savor the Small Moments

At times, this pandemic can feel like endless torrents of rain.  There is real suffering and hardship.  We have lost jobs.  Lost revenue.  Lost academic quarters.  Lost seasons.  And lost our ability to dine out and enjoy time in person with friends and extended family.  We are in a battle right now and we have to recognize that it will not be easy.

They’ll never be any doubt that the pleasure was worth all the pain.” — Jimmy Buffet

But we can’t look around for someone to blame.  We can’t act like a victim and feel sorry for ourselves.  There are still so many little moments of joy and pure goodness that come with this battle.  These are moments to savor that would not have been possible without the struggle.  And these moments are even sweeter because we had to work and sacrifice along the way.

We have to recognize that storms don’t last forever.  And when they end, there is always a moment of joy and a glorious sunset.