TOP's Tuesday: Miserable or Motivated?

I found this photograph in the gallery over the summer but waited to share it. I didn't think it was the time, or maybe it was my attitude was more of miserable instead of motivated. As the calendar has turned, my heart remains heavy yet my reliance on God increases with each day. It's only with His strength, wisdom, and direction that I'm moving forward each day.

Don't get me wrong, there are days and moments of being "miserable". I am human after all. My hope and prayer, when the miserable monster comes over me, that I recognize it and nip it in the bud directly before becoming the domino of others feeling miserable too. 

You might not realize it but your mood and attitude affects the people you interact with. We have a choice to either motivate others to see grace, mercy, hope, compassion, empathy, love, forgiveness, and the list goes on and on OR we can become overwhelmed with the challenges of life and be the first agent for a miserable day, for ourselves, and those we care the most about.

I can't remember who first said this, but those that walk around miserable and are the initial domino in the game of miserableness are "Joy Suckers". I personally, don't want to be one of those, I want to share joy and model it's possible to be joy-filled in the midst of life's happenings. Sometimes, the struggles or troubles we face are because of our own poor choices, and others are thrust at us because this is how life works. Our reaction to life is totally up to us though.

Do you let life make you miserable or does it motivate you to be a positive catalyst for those around you? There are people who have lost so much yet to see them out in the public, model the opposite of their circumstances. 

She fought embarrassment and ridicule because of how her family "looked" while using the welfare checks (before there was the SNAP cards). What those in line after didn't realize, is they were living in small quarters, my friend often wore the same clothes so their kids could have what they needed first, and she worked hard to provide for her family and the hardest thing they ever did was ask for help but out of respect for themselves and their family, they modeled "motivation", not "miserable". Her kids have a great sense of who they are and the many blessings they have because of their parents attitude and humility. 

They had a choice. Their first choice was to accept help when they needed it the most. Next, they chose to hold their heads high and maintain a dignified way of living as they worked hard and saved so they could do it on their own one day. And finally, they chose to model "motivation", not "miserable". If you've walked this road, you know I've only touched on the challenges and difficulties of living in poverty or on tough financial times yet as I think about the quote on the photo in today's blog, the rising number of needs for families in our area, and the rising costs...I decided to share this as an encouragement.

An encouragement to motivate you, your neighbor, friends, and family that there is hope and a light at the end of your tunnel if you are living a similar life. Don't give up or let your current circumstances bring you down, instead use them as the fuel to motivate you to work harder, volunteer more, and be the positive domino of moving forward with faith, grace, mercy, and hope.

Do you have a story to share, words of encouragement to offer, or a time when you chose motivation over miserableness?

Will you share below in a comment?