Bumps in the Road

One day we were driving in the van and the kids were playing on their tablets. We hit a bump in the road and Colin (7 years old) let out a yell and starting whining that I messed up his game. He continued to be upset for quite a while and had a hard time getting back on track with his game. I think the reason he was having so much trouble was because he was so emotional and so focused on what was messed up, that it prevented him from thinking clearly enough to continue his game. Just like I had no control over the bump we hit while driving, we have no control over the bumps we hit in life. What we DO have control over is the way we react to them. If Colin would have remained calm and just started his game over, he would have probably been able to play without difficulty. But because he was so upset, he was having trouble controlling his mind and fingers as he played the game. It is inevitable that we will hit bumps in our life. Losing a job, financial strain, a struggling relationship, physical pain, waiting for a baby, etc. But we have a choice. We can feel bad about ourselves, tell everyone what a horrible situation we’re in, go into depression, and whine about it until it’s over. OR we can choose to be thankful for what God has already done for us and for what he will do. We can choose to treat it like it is – a bump – and just calmly walk over it. Stand on His word, knowing that what He has promised will come to pass, no matter how long it takes. Don’t focus on yourself and the problem. Choose to look beyond it and focus on loving others. You’ll be so busy blessing others that you’ll be surprised when you realize that the ‘bump’ is way behind you. Enjoy the journey and don’t trip over the bumps. Are you facing a ‘bump’ today? Does it feel like a mountain? How can I help you calmy walk over that bump?