Daily Devotion

BITTER OR BETTER?

Psalm 119: 71-73

 

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.
72 The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver. 73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

 

There is no doubt that life is full of ups and downs. Almost everyone has one story or the other to tell; tales of pain (or woe) – either currently happening or that occurred sometime in their life time.

The things we go through can either make us or break us; and we can come out of our experiences either bitter or better. It all depends on how we respond to the problems of life. As simple as it sounds, within us lies the power of choice that could influence a bitter or better outcome within the boundaries of our personality.

The story is told of a lady who became an orphan at the age of seven. Coming from a very poor background, no family member could care for her for a sustained period of time. Being passed from one home to another, she had a very rough upbringing and suffered a great deal!

This little girl was determined to make it in life – she finally did, and became quite successful. Spurred by the miseries of her own pain, she started an orphanage to help other children going through similar experiences. She had the choice to be angry with life for doling her such bitter experiences; but rather chose to emerge out of her pain as a better person, bringing hope and joy to other kids in need.

How are you responding to that negative situation? What changes are you observing in your emotions, passion, interactions, heart, etc.? Does it reflect a better personality that benefits your neighborhood, community, city, country, or even the world? Or have you found yourself angry, grumpy, bitter, and difficult to be around?

Without seemingly minimizing the gravity of some of life’s experiences, I will sign off on this note – “never relinquish your power of choice, no matter what your story may be. Never allow the bitterness of that situation deny you the opportunity for betterment. The greatest and smartest comeback for life’s distasteful experiences, is to creative something positive out of those experiences”.

I will leave you with this powerful tool – if life has given you a lemon, make a lemonade! Use that situation as a learning tool; let it make you better; and leave a legacy for the world to emulate!