feelings | DustyTakle.com

I haven’t been looking forward to November getting here, because it means all of the holidays are upon us. Sounds pretty bah humbug, right? I even said to myself that I don’t feel like I’m going to be in the Christmas spirit this year. I just wasn’t feeling like I was going to feel the things I needed to feel, you know? Granted, it’s early to even be thinking in such terms, but let’s face it…..time travels so quickly these days. I found myself thinking about how expensive the season gets, how busy and full our days seem to get blah, blah, blah. You’re like, Dusty, I don’t even know you anymore. I know, right? But I woke up November 1st actually kind of feeling it. I felt that holiday energy I didn’t think I would feel. Maybe, it’s the cold weather outside. Maybe it’s just a new day. Or, maybe it was just I didn’t give myself time.

But, I woke up and just felt different.

I found myself asking Jett what he wanted for Christmas. He said, “I want that poster of Albert Einstein with his tongue sticking out, and I want to put it on the outside of my door!” I laughed, because, who asks for something like this? Jett Takle, of course.

And, I felt what I needed to feel when it was time to feel it.

The point of my story isn’t that suddenly I’m ready for the holidays and in the spirit. The point of my story is something my dad told me 17 years ago around this very time when I was going through a divorce.

“You never know how you’re going to feel tomorrow.”

I remember feeling depressed, heart-broken, wondering if I would ever feel happiness again. I was getting ready to sign divorce papers. I WAS A MESS. One day I was all up in my feelings, and my dad tells me, “You never know how you’re going to feel tomorrow.” I wipe my face and look at him and say, “YES, I DO. EXACTLY HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW.”

But, I didn’t know.

I remember as clearly as this moment is right now, walking into sign those papers and leaving there feeling like a weight had been lifted.

I woke up the next morning, and I felt different. I felt hopeful. And, I felt happy.

I really didn’t know how I was going to feel tomorrow.

Whatever you are feeling today won’t last. Perhaps you’ve been in a season of feeling a certain way that you don’t like. Maybe you’re grieving something or someone. Maybe, you are feeling like you’re not passionate about something you feel like you should be passionate about. Maybe you feel like you’ll always feel this way. Maybe you’ve been dreading something that is being made worse by simply dreading it. Whatever it is, hold this truth close to your heart when you grow weary of that feeling:

You never know how you’re going to feel tomorrow.

So chin up, friends. His mercies are always new. And, you never know what tomorrow may bring.

My sweet seven year old came home from school yesterday a little more solemn than usual. His sober demeanor eventually turned into a seemingly sour attitude. By this point, I was pretty much over his crabbiness that was even evident in his silence. I addressed his current position and told him, “There is no reason for your sour attitude.” After all, we leave for the beach in a few short days. Life is good for him. What gives?

As I watched him attempt to compose himself, the thought of asking him what he may be feeling occurred to me. There ya go, Mom.

“John Henry, is there something bothering you?” I finally engaged him.

His response flowed so effortlessly. A friend had “told a lie about (him).”

“He said I told him to write on the smart board, and I didn’t.” He went on to explain. “He tried to make something he did all my fault.”

I loved on my son and sympathized with him. I told him how I know that hurts.

After bedtime readings, we prayed. I told John Henry we needed to forgive his friend.

“How do I forgive him? What do I do?” He asked.

“You choose to still love him and be his friend.” This was the best way I knew how to explain such a powerful act to a seven year old.

I reinforced with him that it was okay to still feel hurt. But, he couldn’t let that hurt affect his friendship.

What if I had never asked John Henry, “Is there something bothering you?” Perhaps, it was the Spirit’s prompting. No matter what, I’m glad I didn’t just let it go. I’m thankful I engaged my son.

Otherwise, I would have failed to acknowledge that he was hurting.

And, I would have missed a teachable moment on forgiveness.

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You Never Know How You’re Going To Feel Tomorrow.

Teachable Moments.

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