It's Not Always Easy

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

(Romans 5:3-4)

We live in a world which strives to live a pain free, pleasurable life. Commercials on the television urge us to take a Tylenol if we feel a pain coming on, go on a trip if you need to 'get away from it all', go shopping if you need a pick me up and make sure you schedule time for yourself to just enjoy life. Now there is nothing really wrong with taking medication if you have a headache or having a vacation or buying new things but I think the problem comes when we take this kind of thinking too far.

There are those who would do anything to avoid an unpleasant task or situation or anything else that they just might not enjoy doing. Duties and responsibilities are put aside because they just don't want to have to do something they don't want to do. Tomorrow I am going to attend a funeral for a dearly loved man who I have known all my life. He lived to be 91 and will be sorely missed. While I know that there will be many people in attendance there still will be those who will not attend simply because they 'don't like funerals'. Well... who does? 

It's not always easy doing the right thing. But there are things that come up in life that we shouldn't shirk. Responsibilities, duties, acts of service to others etc. Why shouldn't we put them off? Because I believe that when we do something that we would rather not do, because we know it is the right thing to do, it will build our character. When we do something for someone other than ourselves we avoid becoming self centred. 


Sometimes life is unpleasant and can even be uncomfortable but if we persevere doing what we know is right to do then our character will be of sterling quality. My Mother always told me that 'sometimes you just have to something even if you don't want to because it is the right thing to do'. She instilled character in me. It didn't kill me to do that thing that I didn't want to do but it did discipline me to be focused on others instead of myself and my own comfort. It's not always easy or even comfortable but it's worth it.