Encouragement and comfort to help you cope in tough times
Life can be hard...
Sometimes you feel it is just one big struggle and a never ending battle to keep your head above water.
I've been there.
I've thrown my hands up in despair and cried out to God to please, please make a way.
and somehow God gave me the strength to "keep on keeping on".
How do I do it?
....apart from my faith - this is what helps me cope:
- DON'T LOSE HEART
Encourage your husband and thank him for working so hard for your little family.
Stay away from "doom-sayers" - those who constantly tell you "how difficult things are for you" or that "you'll never make it" etc.
Remain thankful and remind yourself rather of all that you have (your Faith, health, husband, children, friendships etc.) instead of focusing on what you don't have.
- UNWIND
Take a deep breath and take time off "worrying". Instead have some
frugal fun
and enjoy your family and the time spent together.
- HAVE SOME FRIENDS OVER
Have a "bring and share" dinner at your house, a DVD and Popcorn evening or a games evening. Laughter and good friends can really help lift your Spirits.
A "bring and share" in essence is when everyone contributes to the meal by bringing something that can be shared with everyone - for example one person will bring a salad, another a
potato dish
and another will bring a
dessert
.
Usually when we have a barbeque, everyone must bring their own meat and drinks as well (enough for their family).
- HELP OTHERS
Knowing I have helped ease someone else's burden definitely makes me look at my own problems in a different light.
Include your children and teach them the valuable lesson of caring for others without expecting anything in return.
- SHARE YOUR BURDENS
A burden shared is halved.
I have an older friend that I often speak to about my concerns and her years of life experience has often helped me put things in perspective and has lightened my burdens.
- GROW YOUR OWN HERBS AND VEGETABLES
Spending time in the garden is very therapeutic for me...it somehow has a calming effect on me.
Growing your own
vegetables
and
herbs
have many benefits:
- it adds to your frugal lifestyle;
- it encourages your children to eat healthily - children love to eat what they helped grow :-)
- and it can help return calm and tranquility to your state of mind.
- ME TIME
Allow yourself time on your own.
Apart from reading my Bible and praying in the morning, I try to spend one Saturday every six weeks or so by myself.
I
colour my hair
, give myself a
Manicure
and
Pedicure
and if time allows a Facial (
steam, home-made face scrub and home-made facemask
).
My sister-in-law calls this a "pink pig" day.
My "pink pig" day usually lasts from 9am to 1pm while my hubby looks after the kids for me.
- ROMANCE
Make time for the two of you.
Go away for a weekend once or twice a year.
It doesn't have to cost much.
The Frugal way would be to ask your Mom and Dad to stay at your house and look after the kids while you stay over at their house.
I really want to encourage you to "keep on keeping on".
Things will get better - or perhaps you will just get better at it! ;-)
Stay on your knees and keep your chin up.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26 verse 3
Blessings!
Ray
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