April 9, 2013

Responses to hard things

Silence.
 
No words.
 
God can handle messes. 
 
I'm here if you need anything.
 
Here's some advice...
 
It's only a season - this won't last forever.
 
I'll be praying.
 
Just trust God!
 
Be of good courage.
 
Maybe your faith is being tested.
 
When I was in your shoes....
 
God won't give you more than you can handle. 
 
You've got this.
 
You are not alone.
 
I wish there was something I could say or do.
 
I love you!
 
Don't forget to enjoy that baby amidst all you have going on!
 
God is always faithful.
 
Just keep smiling!
 
Do not fear.
 
Lean on us - that's what we are here for.
 
I'm glad you're feeling.  And I'm sorry there is so much to feel.
 
What do you need?
 
God got you through 5:01 today.  I'll be pray He gets you to 6:01 too.
 
You're in my thoughts.
 
Hang in there!
 
Don't worry - it will all work out when it's supposed to.
 
Stop trying to control things you have absolutely no control over.
 
I cannot imagine what you're going through.
 
I'm sorry.  This sucks.
 
What do you want to hear?

2 comments:

  1. What I DON'T want to hear is anything that stars with "Well, at least..." or otherwise minimizes whatever it is that I'm having a hard time with. Yes, when I have a difficult student, at least it's only for one year. That doesn't make it not suck for that year. Yes, when Raj is gone, at least he isn't in Afghanistan. I'm grateful for that, but it doesn't make me not miss him. Yes, things could always be worse, but that doesn't mean I don't deserve to have feelings about how things are and to have those feelings heard and not dismissed.

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  2. I personally loved this. The one thing a lot of people cringe at are cliched responses. The best thing to say is, "How can I help you?" --- Not like a Walmart clerk, lol -- or, "What do you need? What can I help with?" That always seems to defuse the tension. If any.

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