I’ve had, to quote the title of one of my favorite children’s books, “a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day”.  However, it hasn’t been just a day filled with calamities and disappointments, it seems like it has been a whole week of them!

First…the weather.  Okay, I can’t control the weather, but seriously?  Enough snow already!  It was sort of fun to have a “snow day” in April, but it’s not funny seeing the white stuff in May!  Isn’t this supposed to be the month of flowers that the April showers were to bring?  I peak out my window and all I see are two scraggly-branched bushes I planted last year shivering together under a blanket of snow.  It’s sad.

I think I can also blame the weather for my feeling of overwhelming tiredness.  I know bears hibernate in the winter…maybe people do too.  At least I feel like hibernating!  I peak out from under my covers, and see snow falling outside and just want to stay curled up in the fetal position and wait for summer.  I think this is the year we just jump right over Spring!

I got a rejection letter last week.  I know it’s something that all writer’s deal with, but still it bums me out!  I know why they call them “rejection letters”…they are so rejecting!  Did you know that there are actually courses that teach people how to write good rejection letters?  Believe it or not, rejection letters are supposed to come across so that it sounds more like an amicable “break up” or a sensitive “Dear John” letter.  They are supposed to let you down easily; be encouraging while at the same time be completely rejecting!

Dear Lynn, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but I can’t publish your article, because even though it’s (you’re) terrific and all, it’s (you’re) not what I’m looking for right now…you see, my dear, it’s not about you, it’s really about me…but we can still be friends, can’t we?…Blah, blah, blah… Who are they trying to kid?

Yeah, this past week has been crumby (oh, sure there were some “up” times but basically they’ve been few and far between.)  Have I also mentioned that I’ve broken a cup, spilled some milk, burned a pizza, worried about money, tripped over the dog, banged my knee, been frustrated, disappointed, angry, tired, argumentative and confrontational?  I’ve also been moody, miserable and mean.  It really has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, very discouraging week…and I hate to say it, but since it’s only Monday morning, and I’m in the throes of my “Monday morning blues” I’m feeling like this week is not getting off to a good start either! I’ve thought a lot about just curling up under my blankie; grabbing a huge tub of ice cream, and console myself with a massive sugar high (not to mention a massive brain freeze) and wallow for awhile in self-pity.  But woe-is-me-ing is not something I like to do for too long because it can become debilitating (not to mention fattening!)  So what should I do when I am feeling so discouraged?

Let’s look at the word “discourage” shall we?  It is defined as:

• the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
• the expression of opposition and disapproval
• discouraging – depriving of confidence or hope or enthusiasm and hence often deterring action; “where never is heard a discouraging word”

Where never is heard a discouraging word…?  (Lightbulb moment)  I quickly drop my blankie on the floor, put the ice cream pail back in the freezer and grab my Bible.

• He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Isaiah 40:29
• These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33
• Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10
• For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.  2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)
• Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). Psalm 55:22 (AMP)
• Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)
• The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged.  Deuteronomy 31:8

Thank You, Lord, for Your encouragement to me this morning! Oh, and thank You Lord for my friend Connie, who posted this a few years ago on Facebook and I ponder upon it every year at the beginning of May: “If My people who are called [Albertans] humble themselves and pray [for forgiveness for mocking Manitoba in February]…then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and make it stop snowing today.” 2 Connie-cle:7:14