I realized today that I know at least a hand-full of people who would refer to themselves as survivors. Specifically, survivors of LIFE. If I asked them how they're doing I'd get: "surviving". If I asked how things are going: "oh, I'll make it, I'm a survivor."
Hmmmm....the strange contrast of this kind of thinking vs what I feel is my own kind of thinking struck me as I was driving around town. And since I didn't have any children with me this evening I was able to pursue the thought for more than a millisecond. And here's where it led me.
I don't think I've ever thought that thought before. That I'm a survivor. That I am surviving. To me that feels so...limiting. Limited. It feels powerless rather than powerful.
I don't like being powerless. Do you?
There have definitely been periods of my life that I've survived. (A 7 month old that needed surgery by a pediatric neurosurgeon. A husband labeled with an unknown illness who was supposedly going to be unable to work/fly/drive/dress himself when I was 24. A move overseas and back again in less than 8 months) But even as I type those things "survived" doesn't encompass how I feel about them.
I conquered them. My family conquered them. My daughter conquered them. My husband conquered them. MY GOD CONQUERED THEM! And I was right there by His side while He was showing me I'm more than a conqueror. And if I'm more than a conqueror then I'm definitely way more than a survivor!
I am kicking life's butt. I'm not just along for the ride. I'm in the driver's seat (ok - so I'm driving a mini-van but still) and you can usually find me driving over the speed limit.
I won't be surviving this life. Surviving parenting two children. Surviving fluctuating finances. Surviving a marriage between two first-born people who don't always see eye-to-eye. Surviving balancing life, and missions and money and, and, and.
I'll be thriving. Because after all, isn't that what I was made for?
I have definitely said this in the past - not sure if I have used it recently...but, I may have. I tried to think of why I have used this - does a relative say this or is it an "easier" way to tell someone that I am "making it through" a tough time that I was going through without going in to details. I feel like that is probably the reason why. I am not totally sure about that - but I will think about that a little more. I don't feel like I am thriving right now - but making it through one tired day at at time (just being real here). God is helping me through each day and I am thankful for that! Maybe I need more sleep, a "day off" - I don't know, but I do know that I am going to sleep right now!
ReplyDeletePromises - I hear you! I think perhaps it's easier to say thriving once you're on the other side of the harder times of life. And that is the place I wrote from. I am definitely sure that when I was in the midst of the difficulties I was not feeling like I was thriving. So maybe, my point is, when it's all said and done, and you look back and you've conquered the hard times, then you can see how you were more than a survivor. But in the midst, that would be really hard to do. And, the people I was thinking about as I wrote never really seem to move on to the next place. They're always just surviving.
ReplyDeleteI hear you - your post just got me thinking! :) Thriving is an awesome place to be in and I too have conquered many things! It is awesome to look back on those trials and see how God did carry you through it!
ReplyDeleteOkay...totally love the post and the conversation that followed it. I think when I've been faced with tough / life-threatening situations (which has been for a lot of my loved ones over the last 10 years) I go into what I would refer to as "survival mode" meaning, focusing on what needs to be done when and not allowing the emotions of the circumstances to lead / guide me. I know I've learned a lot about the need to not go to extremes in these situations (which is easy to do when the people are close to your heart / life) but ask (daily) for wisdom and guidance from the Lord becuase I know that I know that I know that He is going to lead me through it. I also journal a lot (on and off line) during those times, giving an outlet to the emotions and what I am feeling. Looking back, some of those times definitely felt like dry, wilderness-like hikes, but I can also see how much I and my family grew and matured as a result (current situation included). I guess that would be the "thriving" part.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, it is Who my Hope is in that allows me to get through this journey of LIFE no matter what may be around the next bend.