Keep Fighting
We all have our struggles. Some struggles aren’t as important or all consuming as others. For instance, I only think about my desire to add too much sugar to my coffee when I’m actually making my coffee, which is 1-3 times a day. While I hesitate to even call it a struggle, it is something I always weigh mentally and can’t decide which camp I want to be in…less calories or happier taste buds? But then there are those more intense struggles that we are sometimes consumed by. Some days it feels like we are battling that thing constantly, and it’s exhausting. Personally, my struggle is fear. It’s crippling at times, if I let it be. The past year or two it’s been a lot less crippling because of God’s grace and learning how to better fight against it. The last few months that unwelcome companion has been coming around more (thanks a lot postpartum hormones). One night I couldn’t sleep because my fearful mind was racing at a nascar speed, so instead of sleeping I wrote this poem. It helped me so much to just repeat it over and over until my thoughts stopped racing. So, I wanted to share it in hopes that it might be helpful for someone else.
FIGHTING FEAR
Faithfully identifying goodness, hope, truth.
Ignoring needless grief.
Freely enjoying and rejoicing.
R. Hooper
I realize this has nothing to with home on a surface level, but fighting fear does have to do with the endeavor of deeply loving the people in our home. But also, this poem does actually relate to home.
Sometimes we have a surprising amount of fear related to our homes, whether we are aware of it or not. Have you ever been worried your home isn’t good enough to host friends or family? Have you ever fretted about what you’d do if something happened to your house (like a flood or fire)? I would imagine there are probably several thoughts you think or concerns you have about your home that could stand to be put in their place. And honestly, this encouragement is helpful even if it’s something like insecurity or jealousy you’re struggling with. So, whatever your fight is, keep fighting. Keep faithfully identifying goodness, hope and truth. And by all means, do your best to ignore needless grief. And make sure you are giving yourself freedom to enjoy and rejoice in the good and in what is true.
