Whew!  I have had a week that I would like to forget.  It has been one of those weeks that had it not been for faith of better things yet to come, I would have been buried under my covers with some water and food and about 48 sad movies to aid my self pity party.

Please excuse me for a second while I throw that party:  I have dealt with 3 rounds of antibiotics trying to fight an infection in my tooth, my iPhone falling in the toilet (it still works, thank goodness!), the shock of how much dental work is when you don't have insurance, delayed dental work (due to the infection), the uncertainty of a potential failing grade in a class, traveling to work only to find it closed while trying to not cause a wreck because the brakes were going bad, getting the brakes fixed and  then having a flat tire on the side of 288.  All of this while I was finishing finals, trying to work, having no idea where the money was going to come from and trying to get ready for a wedding and 10 days out of town.  Needless to say, I am having trouble finding any break in the dark cloud that I so recently felt was finally breaking up.

I know that I will be okay.  I know that I have the most amazing and giving parents that I do not deserve.  I know that I have a blessed group of friends and a support system that helps me get through times like these.  And I know that it seems that all I have done recently is throw little "pity me" parties throughout this semester.

While on the side of the road tonight, waiting for my hero of a dad to come rescue me, I found myself crying.  Crying because I was tired.  Crying because I felt like I was drowning.  Crying because the last few times I have called my dad it is to tell him that something has broken and I don't have the means to fix it.  Crying because I know that my parents don't exactly have loads of money to give out to someone.  Crying because I feel like I am being a burden and I hate it.  Crying because I am emotionally, financially and physically tired.  And crying because I knew, deep down, that no matter what I was going through, there was a little baby girl that has it 400 times worse than me at the moment.

I, however, do not intend to dismiss or apologize for my feelings, or my emotional break down.  I think that everyone goes through these times and that each has their "breaking point".  I have learned that each trial God has brought me through, I am only stronger for the next. God never said our lives are going to be easy. Jesus' life wasn't easy.  Mary and Joseph definitely did not have an easy life after Mary was found to be pregnant.  Yet, they still were faithful and true to God and HIS will.

An extremely nice (and handsome) cop fixed my badly mutilated tire and I got home safely.  When I kept telling my dad sorry that I was being so expensive, he told me, "It is your time to be pooped on.  We all have a time when everything falls apart at once. It will get better." I couldn't help but smile as I was strangely comforted.  

I  know that there is going to be 1,000 more "seasons" in my life where everything is going to go wrong.  I think, that instead of feeling sorry for myself, I will take President Kennedy's advice: "Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.", the wise words of my father, and GOD' s never failing love and power

 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9