When You’ve Had a Bad Day

I’d had a pretty good weekend.

I’d been on two local television newscasts as a part of my work leading a women’s organization that’s on top of my day job (and night job of parenting/wife-ing).

I’d had a blast with my little bit doing girl stuff, and then the boys came home early so we got half a day on Sunday just to hang out as a family.  It was a new month with lots of fun things in store.

I was busy at work and trying to meet deadlines.  I took a half hour break to eat and write a speech on leadership that I have to give at a women’s retreat in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  If you know me at all, you know I NEVER write speeches.  I’m more of a wing-it type girl.  It feels more authentic to me not to come off overly scripted.  But this was a new audience and out of town, and it was an hour of just standing and speaking, so I felt like I needed to script it out even if I didn’t bring the speech up with me.  I was in the middle of writing about authentic leadership when I ended up on a call that knocked me clear off course.  Hours later and I couldn’t bounce back.  Or write the speech.

Then I saw Holley’s prompt for Coffee for the Heart today was, “What are the encouraging words you want to hear when you’re having a hard day?”

Talk about timely.

So I thought I would write a little of the encouraging words that my beautiful friend left me when I called her covered up by the rain clouds and questioning my ability to lead much less give a big speech about it in a few days.

Maybe this is something you need to use IN your speech.  Because, you know what, not everyone is going to like us.  Not everyone is going to like the decisions that we make.  But as leaders we have to make tough decisions at times.  Ultimately it is our responsibility to TAKE responsibility and make a decision.  And sometimes those decisions are hard.  And sometimes people will say bad things and make you feel like you’re doing it all wrong.  And maybe, you know what, at times we are.  But we trust our gut and the best decisions aren’t made to make everyone feel comfortable and warm and fuzzy.  It’s tough and that’s authentic.

Then another spoke blessings over me and said OF COURSE I was going to get tackled at the epicenter of what I preparing to speak on – she said that’s how the enemy tries to snuff out our courage and silence.  Then another spoke love over me without condition.  Then another spoke support for me.  All in a couple of hours.  And they were the only four people I talked to about the hurt.  They all spoke what my heart needed to hear in an entirely different language and using a totally different voice, but each used by God to bring me back.  From my husband to my blogging friend in the tundra of Minnesota (and yes, it’s tundra if you’re from Houston).

So I encourage you to find a port in the storm.  To find a safe shelter.  A friend or spouse or family member you can turn to when you’ve had the hard day.  When the black cloud won’t budge from your line of sight.  Because sometimes, when you’ve had a bad day, the thing you need to remember is to share your hurt in a safe place.  They won’t get tired of hearing your story.  They love you.  They want to hug you or cry with you or make you laugh or encourage you or remind you that God has a plan even in the middle of all THIS.  Don’t be too scared to let someone encourage you.

This is part of Holley’s Coffee for the Heart Link up which I am honored to join.  And just a little reminder, Holley Gerth’s book released yesterday, You’re Going to Be Okay: Encouraging Truth Your Heart Needs to Hear, Especially on the Hard Days.  Oh friends, I have started reading it and the words are powerful.  Simple. Honest. Right to the point.  Do not miss out on this beautiful encouraging work.  It’s not a God book.  It’s a girl book.  A book for every woman in your life who has ever had a hard day.