Dance in the Rain

      As we talk about making our marriage fun, I am aware that for some, it is tough to think about having fun when you're going through tough times. You may be thinking, "How can I even think about having fun when we can't pay the bills? I need to be focused on getting out of this mess." Let me free you up a little. These are the times when we need to dance in the rain. Those trials and hardships aren't going to get any easier because we worry about them. In fact, they will seem more and more insurmountable as we focus on the problem. The people that get through tough times well are those that learn to find the silver lining, to dance in the rain, to smile in the face of adversity.

      When Justin and I were in the midst of our financial nightmare, we regularly found reasons to laugh about it. When our power was out because we couldn't pay the bill, we lit candles and enjoyed our third helping of Ramon noodles, THIS time with cheese! ;) When friends came to visit our not-so-keepin-up-with-the-Jones' house, we smiled as we called it our third-world mansion, knowing there are people in the world that would appreciate a roof over their head. When bill collectors hounded our phones, we had a contest to see which of us go the most calls in one day. Record was 22! BUT....it didn't last forever. We eventually worked our way out of the financial mess we put ourselves into, and God blessed us with a beauitful home, and cars that fit the family's needs.

      Looking back, we could have cried our way through it, fought our way through it, blamed each other for the trouble and made life miserable for those 2 years. If we hadn't learned to dance together in the rain, we may not be married today. Because we did, we will always look back on those times and laugh.

      Today, whatever life throws at us, we face it holding hands, united as a couple, and find a reason to laugh about it. Don't let life's worries get you down. Don't let negative people convince you that you need to worry.

"Who of you by worrying can add one hour to his life?" Luke 12:25

Whatever you're facing today, decide that it has stolen your joy for the last time. When the storm gets rough, the thunder is loud, and it's raining all around you, get out there and dance away the troubles!