We are not put in the world to be comfortable ALL.THE.TIME.
How do we go about appreciating the uncomfortable?
But, who wants to be uncomfortable, right? I know I don’t! Most people, if not all, want to live a comfortable life. Parents, most of all, desire for their children to live comfortably. It would break their hearts to see their offsprings in an uncomfortable, if not, hurtful situation.
There are many things that could make us squirm or cringe.
Change could be uncomfortable. So could growth. And challenges! They are ever so… challenging!
Inconveniences… Going through them could reveal our character.
James 1:2-4 New International Version (NIV)
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Warning: I know this is TMI, but I am proud of my children because of this situation, plus others too.
One time, our family underwent the very inconvenient clogging of the toilet. We have just one in our humble abode. For number two, we had to borrow a neighbor’s loo. But for number one, we had to do it on the shower floor drain. Yes, even us females. It was uncomfortable, but I did not once hear any kid complain. They were just asking ‘why’.
Last December, we went on a short vacation to Pico de Loro. We opted to walk everywhere – from the condo to the country club or to the beach – versus taking the shuttle. The children were fine with it. Then, my son’s slippers broke, and he walked with bare feet. He didn’t even want to borrow my slippers. I know it was uncomfortable and probably painful, yet he bore it without crying or throwing a tantrum. What a trooper!
I also love them for enduring long car rides, doing their chores, obeying us for trying various food, and being able to go to the toy store to just look around.
What’re the reasons for appreciating the uncomfortable?
- We become better. We can only compare ourselves to the previous versions of ourselves.
- Resiliency.
re·sil·ience /rəˈzilyəns/ noun
noun: resiliency 1. the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. “the often remarkable resilience of so many British institutions” 2. the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity. “nylon is excellent in wearability and resilience”
- We appreciate the people around us. Those who have helped us, showed us genuine concern, or the people who display resiliency.
- Changes are inevitable and there is wisdom in accepting the things we have no control over. Our lives are a series of lessons we learn from. Uncomfortable experiences and mistakes are good teachers. We then achieve growth.
- All of these discomforts, inconveniences, challenges lead us to prayer and bring us closer to God, who has the power. He is in control. There is peace in knowing that.
Jeremiah 1:8 New International Version (NIV)
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
