Enough of Ups and Downs to Keep Us Humble

Life is a great leveller. We all have problems, disappointments, sometimes sorrows, and enough of ups and downs to help to keep us humble. We’ve seen many happy and successful people, and some who were thought to be so but no one who hasn’t had struggles no one who doesn’t have unanswered questions, no one who doesn’t do some searching of himself and perhaps some pleading, praying, crying out for answers, living with the problems, pondering the purpose, trying to find the best of all ways in the world, with discouragement and difficulties and down days. And since all of us are searching, hoping, trying, sometimes faltering, wanting to know what we should know, wanting to do what we should do, and making our share of mistakes, we all need the understanding of others, and kindness and encouragement. Children need kindness and encouragement from parents. Parents need kindness and encouragement from children. It helps to have appreciation. It helps when others are interested as we search and struggle, and sooner or later learn that among those things most precious and irreplaceable are faith in God, faith in ourselves; friends; the love and respect of loved ones; a sense of purpose; self-respect, and a clean and comfortable conscience. There are questions, always. But also there are answers and wherever life leads us, whatever our problems, there are certainties that override all else. Oh, let us stand up to life, its obligations, opportunities; its happiness and sorrows; its learning, doing, and enduring, with faithfulness, and faith in the limitless possibilities of everlasting life, and with loved ones with us always and forever. We need each other. We need the Father of us all. We all need kindness and compassion and encouragement for life is a great leveller with enough of ups and downs and enough mistakes to help to keep us humble.