Today Was a Difficult Day
A.A. Milne is the author of the many stories and artwork for children, that chronicle the adventures of Christopher Robin and his stuffed bear, Winnie the Pooh, or Pooh for short. One day Pooh and his friend Piglet sitting on a log, and it was a difficult day.
“Today was a difficult day,” said Pooh.
There was a pause.
“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Piglet.
“No,” said Pooh after a bit. “No, I don’t think I do.”
“That’s okay,” said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.
“What are you doing?” asked Pooh.
“Nothing, really,” said Piglet. “Only, I know what difficult days are like. I quite often don’t feel like talking about it on my difficult days either.
“But goodness,” continued Piglet, “Difficult days are so much easier when you know you’ve got someone there for you. And I’ll always be here for you, Pooh.”
And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his difficult day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs…he thought that his best friend had never been more right.”
Don’t we all need a friend like Piglet? Don’t we all need to be a friend like Piglet?
Difficult Times
Going through difficult times is hard for all of us, and these days, all of us are going through difficult times. And we would like to help. What people often express to me is they do not know what to say. I would share a couple of things. If someone is going through a difficult day, it is important and significant that you asked, “How you doing?”
We all know it is important to listen, but maybe Pooh Bear does not want to talk about it. Could we endure the discomfort of sitting with someone in silence?
Good Words
Good words are important, and they are a beautiful and valuable thing. “Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Proverbs 25:11). I like the King James, “A word fitly spoken”. Most of the spiritual gifts in the New Testament involve speaking. But sometimes the most eloquent words are words not spoken at all. And Solomon gives this warning. “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him” (Proverbs 18:13).
Garden of Gethsemane
It was a difficult day beyond the scope of any difficult day any of us have experienced, when the Lord Jesus Christ went to the Garden of Gethsemane, on the night he was betrayed. He was anticipating the nails and the thorns; but worst of all He was anticipating the broken fellowship with the Father from all eternity as He carried the sins of the world in His body. The stress was such that capillaries in His skin broke and He sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44). His disciples were with Him. There was nothing they could say, but they were there. Even though He withdrew a ways, He knew His best friends were there. That was why He called them in the beginning, to be with Him. “He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him” (Mark 3:14).
The Apostle Paul spoke of three men who were there for him. “I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaius…. for they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men” (1 Corinthians 16:17,18).
God Has Called Us To Listen
So God has called us to be there for each other. God has called us to listen, and to listen first. “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19).
We should then listen first, before we say something. The old adage is that is why God gave us two ears and only one mouth.
True, this speaks of exercising great care when it comes to interpersonal relationships and avoiding conflict. But I would suggest another application when it comes to being “slow to anger”. Don’t get frustrated when someone doesn’t want to talk. Hey, I am here and all spiritual and everything, don’t you want to pour out your heart? Don’t get frustrated when someone can’t put something into words, or doesn’t want to say anything at all. They are glad you’re there, unless you’re frustrated. We cannot show compassion in a hurry. Doesn’t it say “anger”, you said “frustrated”? They are the same emotion, it is just what velocity is anger traveling?
It Is Important That We Try.
It is important that we try. In my Clinical Pastoral Education class online last night, we could not come up with a better question to ask than “How are you doing?” It is important someone cared enough to ask. Hebrews 10:24 says, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds”. The key word “consider” in the Greek means to look carefully, to notice. And if we don’t know what they need, ask. Do you want to talk?
Would you like for me to just sit with you?
We all have our difficult days, and in today’s situation, we all have them to some degree. Worse yet, we can’t be there. But there is the phone. I watched two neighbors in the street talking yesterday, and they were about twelve feet apart. That works. No matter what are our limitations, we need to try.
Chasing Sunsets – Pastor Clay’s Devotions
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