Don't Make Life Harder than it Needs to Be

The pessimist complains about the wind; 

the optimist expects it to change; 

the realist adjusts the sails.        

William Arthur Ward

Life is hard; and then you die.  I think it was from my father that I first heard that sentiment but my mother disputes some of my childhood memories and time has warped the misty past.  In any case, that statement of simple truth has stuck with me.  Life IS hard.  Hard is not bad-- God Himself  explained to Adam that He “cursed is the ground ‘for thy sake’  (Genesis 3:17), in other words, for our benefit.   A wise and LOVING Heavenly Father knows our growth comes only as we struggle to survive.  Muscles strengthen when strained to lift heavy weights.  So does our character.

That being said, it seems foolish to make things harder than necessary.  Yesterday in discussing a schedule conflict, someone vented their frustration at a third party who wasn’t accepting their responsibility to be to a meeting.   Time and emotional energy had been wasted trying to convince the other person to cooperate.   Rarely can we make people do what they ought to do and it is probably wise to do what WE can and leave them to the consequences that will come.   I recognize that we are all tied to others, especially those closest to us and their actions or inactions impact our lives but it is most difficult to drive the herd and we can’t force the outcome.  

Life is hard; but it is unnecessarily harder to take on tasks that rightfully are not ours.  Perhaps the best we can do is to do our own part and leave the rest alone.   Begging, nagging, and stewing over what is not in our control rarely brings the desired result and NEVER brings personal peace.   That’s what I am trying to remember as I continue my mortal journey.