"The Next Right Thing"

Sunday, 23 February 2020.

I've really been struggling with my levels of happiness this week. I had a "friend" do something very cruel toward me. It makes so little sense. I've never done anything intended to harm this person, but they seem out to destroy me. To say it's painful is an understatement.

Unfortunately, the song I most relate to this week is from the new Frozen 2 movie-- the song called "The Next Right Thing."

The lyrics are as follows:

I've seen dark before
But not like this
This is cold
This is empty
This is numb
The life I knew is over
The lights are out
Hello, darkness
I'm ready to succumb

I follow you around
I always have
But you've gone to a place I cannot find
This grief has a gravity
It pulls me down
But a tiny voice whispers in my mind
You are lost, hope is gone
But you must go on
And do the next right thing

Can there be a day beyond this night?
I don't know anymore what is true
I can't find my direction, I'm all alone
The only star that guided me was you
How to rise from the floor
When it's not you I'm rising for?
Just do the next right thing
Take a step, step again
It is all that I can to do
The next right thing

I won't look too far ahead
It's too much for me to take
But break it down to this next breath
This next step
This next choice is one that I can make

So I'll walk through this night
Stumbling blindly toward the light
And do the next right thing
And with the dawn, what comes then?
When it's clear that everything will never be the same again
Then I'll make the choice
To hear that voice

And do the next right thing

I try not to write about pessimistic things, so I will simply say that the feelings that have arisen out of unwarranted words and actions from someone I once completely trusted with every ounce of faith just adds to my feelings of confusion. How can someone show such hatred to the sweet and gentle soul I work so hard to show others? How could I work so hard to build warming fires of friendship and safe shelter only to have someone make a bonfire and intentionally throw me in? 

The feelings of rejection, betrayal, loneliness, and sorrow are hard to put into words. But this song comes to my mind these days. And yesterday as I laid with my head under a pillow weeping while I listened to that song from Frozen 2, I just didn't know how I could work through the pain. 

But, God is good to me. And he places people in my path to bring sunshine. Yesterday family and friends came to my aid to provide true needs in my home-- needs which my husband and I couldn't do for ourselves. And today at church, I had a sweet sister (who battles cancer and knows pains) bring me a bottle of lotion for my chronic pain. The cost is pretty penny, but she wanted it to be a gift for me. And how I valued her hug and kindness in remembering me. And everywhere I look I have people who do kind things for me left and right. Even the simpleness of my white-haired angelic friend at church who, in the midst of people wanting his attention, stopped to look me in

the face and smile at me from a distance. It was a simple act of focused friendship, and I felt his Christlike compassion even without shaking his hands. Indeed, as the scripture edict on charity goes: "Love is kind." And I am blessed by so many who are kind to me.

So why then should I let one angry and unkind soul bring my feelings of self-worth down into a state of despair and misery? Well, I must not let that happen!! With the help of God, I feel sustained and strengthened. I am thankful for His love. 

I am thankful to know that my friend who seeks to harm me is also dearly loved by God. He loves all of us. He wants all of us to turn to Him and follow Him in faith. 

I truly believe that we each have our own journey toward the Lord. And I can show forgiveness, patience, and yes, even love, to a friend for whom I still remember the beauty of soul and acts of love rendered. 

# There is Hope for each one of us through Jesus Christ. 

# You are Loved

# Go toward HIS light

# Let your covenants lead you hHome. 

# No sacrifice too great to know the Lord

# Keep trying

# Don't let shame keep you from knowing the Peace and Joy of God

# There is Hope smiling brightly... if you go toward Hope and not despair

Please join me as I go toward His light in the darkness and His Hope amidst despair. Let us each HEAR the VOICE of GOD and "do the next right thing"!

Love, Christine