David, my husband, told me he read an article saying January
6, 2014, was the most depressing day of the year. “Why is that?” I asked. He
responded, “people had to go back to work, the holidays are over and the bills
will begin arriving soon for the overspending at Christmas. To my surprise, it
had nothing to do with the 11+ inches of snow and 40 degrees below zero wind
chill that we were experiencing and making me feel depressed!
Donald Miller in his book, Storyline, says we are exposed to over 3000 commercials every day.
They convince us that life is supposed to be easy. They sell us on a bill of
goods that aren’t true. When life doesn’t get easier, we become depressed. We’ve
probably spent money we really didn’t have on products that usually cause more
work than they save. And in the end we are disappointed.
Life is hard and full of conflict, disappointment, and hurt.
But if we sit with the suffering and reflect on it, we can turn it around for
good. That is what two mothers and their two daughters did after seeing the
suffering of women and children when they went on mission trips. They came up
with an idea to help empower women around the world. They began Trades of Hope,
a fair trade company. They purchase products made by women at a fair market
value and train woman in the United States to hold home parties to sell these
fair trade items. They are turning conflict, suffering and disappointment into
something good.
I became one of those women, a Compassion Entrepreneur, who
sells Trades of Hope merchandise. I wanted to turn my suffering into something God
meant for good by helping women get out of abusive situations. This year for
Christmas most of the presents I purchased were from Trades of Hope. I also
made sure that I did most of my shopping before the Advent season began so this
year I could sit and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and on my
relationship with God.
During Advent I purposefully slowed down and spent time with
God instead of trying to make Christmas perfect in all the usual ways of decorating,
overspending on Christmas gifts and baking. I must confess the slowing down and
waiting were a lot harder than it sounds. But on January 6th it wasn’t
the most depressing day of the year for me despite the snow and cold!
Are you one of those people who considered January 6th
the most depressing day? This year how can you turn your disappointment and
hurt into something God meant for good?
