One Choice, Then Another

I've known people who are going through the toughest of times and I often can't imagine how they are dealing with their trial. 

I've learned they proceed one choice at a time.

When the alarm goes off in the morning we have a choice.  We can stay in bed or get out of bed.  We can choose to get dressed or stay in our pajamas.  We can choose to eat at mealtimes or go hungry.  We can choose to go to work or call in sick.  We can choose to talk to people or stay silent.  We can choose to walk the dog, do the laundry, wash the car, put away the dishes, brush our teeth, and participate in life or not.

People who go through great trials are no more heroic than you.  When you see them at the store, don't be amazed.  They simply chose to go grocery shopping. 

Anyone can make a choice.  Anyone can sit on the couch and choose to get up and go for a walk outside or put their dishes away or read a book or call a friend.

The most difficult thing to deal with during the tough days is not living life, it is the mental battle that goes with the trial.  No one can see the mental battle.  No one can see the fight to remain positive and keep the tears and fears at bay.  It takes an enormous amount of energy to maintain hope, to maintain sanity and to maintain peace.

Next time you are going through a trial or having a difficult day, rejoice in the choices you get to make.  One choice at a time will get you through the day. 

Next time you see someone who is going through a great trial making daily choices, remember they have a great burden on their heart and those choices help them feel normal, give them something to do and give them small victories each day.

Thankfully, each day is full of choices we can make.  We don't need the answers for the next week, the next month, the next year or even the next hour.  We don't need to be able to explain the "whys" and "why nots" that pass through our minds.  We only need to make one choice at a time.