Signora Sheila

Storms and difficulties of all kinds and sizes come our way. From simple doldrums or times of discouragement, to life’s great storms and even pandemics. And they can really start to get us down. Many of life’s problems are extremely serious, like the events of the past few years, from pandemics to financial crises to wars. And it can be really hard not to worry.

Worrying doesn’t work

Both the Bible and life teach us that worry doesn’t help. It just starts a downward spiral of negativity.

While I don’t want to make light of serious situations, I’d like to share a little story about a time when the Lord taught me the importance of conquering “the blues.”

We’d had a long period of rainy weather. Dark, gray, gloomy, and foggy. Just like our current dripping scenery.

Which is hard for me because I’m a sun-loving person by nature. These gloomy days tend to bring me down. Unlike my husband who, in many ways, is an eternal optimist. And who, with a camera in hand, can turn such gloomy days and turn them into beauty! (See his beautiful photos, below!) I can’t claim to share either his talent or his eternal optimism. 

It was a week that hadn’t even started out well, due to my own stupidity. I’m usually pretty good with technology, for an old granny. But I managed to delete the only copies of many special photos from my external hard drive and even ruined the device.

And then I kept kicking myself for it. Hubby tried to encourage me, reminding me that these were just things and had no lasting value.

But I’d already tried (unsuccessfully) to convince myself of that! I even tried congratulating myself on my thorough job of digital decluttering. None of it helped.

The rainy day blues

And the gloomly, incessant dripping did little to lift my spirits. Then I got a head cold and a nasty sinus infection. Zero energy, and even less desire to do anything. I’d had better weeks.

And I desperately needed to do laundry! Not owning a clothes dryer isn’t usually a big problem for me. But we’d just had a week of very unusual snow. So followed by that week of rain, the situation was getting desperate. We needed clean socks and underwear!

The arrival of Sunday brought a brief respite, but I wasn’t home to do laundry because we had gone to visit friends after church. And by the time we left for home, the rain had returned. Again! 

God’s optimism booster

And that’s when the Lord decided I needed an optimism booster.

As we were leaving our friends’ house, their 10-year old daughter Shantal, bounded out the door ahead of us. Jumping and skipping, as children are apt to do with their boundless energy. Especially after snacking on gummy bears, potato chips, and cookies!

“Oh how nice, it’s raining!” she exclaimed, as if announcing some great and novel news.

“Nice?” I thought, “What’s NICE about it?” Clearly her childlike optimism kept pace with her boundless energy. She’s a delightful girl who seems to greet everything (even gloomy gray days) with great enthusiasm and joy.

But she made me wonder, “What’s wrong with me? I don’t usually let little things or weather get to me like this.”

And I realized that I’d forgotten to practice gratitude. Forgotten to look on the bright side and see the silver lining in every cloud, even those of the darkest, grayest storms. So I decided to find some simple ways to beat the rainy day blues.

Dark days of trial and difficulty come to all of us, but they don’t have to bring us down and discourage us. We can fight back! It may not stop the storm (or in my case the gloomy days). If the weather has decided to rain, it’s going to rain. We can’t stop it, but we can choose not to let it to get us down. Just look on the bright side and say “No matter, at least I’ve got an umbrella!”

10 ways to beat the blues

How to keep the shut-in blues, the rainy-day blues, the lockdown blues, or whatever they are, from getting the best of you. And even help you find the silver lining in even the darkest of clouds! Whatever dark time or storm may have gotten you down, I hope these tips will lift your spirits. And that number 10 in particular will lift and restore your faith and hope in God!

1. Look on the bright side ☁️ ☂️ ☀️

Remember that rain is good. It waters the ground and helps the crops grow. It makes everything fresh and new. Just as the storms of life can also bring renewed faith and trust in God.

2. Look ahead to see the silver lining ☀️

Rain always ends and it brings spring flowers and even rainbows! So remember that no trial or affliction lasts forever. The sun will shine again!

3. Work up some energy 😅

Lack of routine and activity can lead to lethargy and depression. So get up and work up some energy by cleaning house, doing a workout, or fixing something special for dinner. You’ll find renewed energy and probably even a fresh perspective!

4. Brighten things up 🌼

Light candles or put out some flowers or a pretty picture. Just like many school kids in Italy did with their cheery drawings of rainbows in windows!

5. Change your viewpoint 🖼️

Take up a hobby or learn something new. Try rearranging your furniture, pictures, or accessories. Or just look out the window or around the room and count all your blessings!

6. Change your perspective 📚

Grab an umbrella and go for a walk. Or call a friend or neighbor. Or maybe watch your favorite movie or read an uplifting book.

7. Have a special treat ☕

Treat yourself to some special cookies, a cup of coffee, tea, or chocolate. But skip the cookies if you’re dieting – or you might feel guilty and even worse than you did before! Enjoy some fruit instead!

8. Count your blessings 🏡

It may be raining or stormy, but rejoice that you have a solid roof over your head, an umbrella, food to eat, or at least that God’s presence is always with you!

9. Drown out depression 🎵

If you’re feeling anxious, worried, or depressed, drown it out with a nice hot bath or shower. Or play soothing music to help you fall asleep. Because a good night’s sleep can also be a real morale booster.

10. And last but not least: Pray and read God’s Word 🙏🏼

The Lord longs to dwell continually in our lives. And He promises that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. He never changes and is always right by our side – come rain or shine, snow or heat! And everything God sends is always good – even if it doesn’t seem so at first!

With God’s help and keeping our eyes on the bright side we too, like little Shantal, can find the silver lining in every cloud!

But (wouldn’t you know)? it was still raining the next day! Drip, drip, drip, all day long. So I thanked the Lord for the good gift of rain. And I added, “But if you don’t mind Lord, I’d like a different good gift tomorrow. Because well, wind and sun – they’re good gifts too, aren’t they?”

Sometimes we just need to see God’s gifts in a different light!

Every gift God sends is good. It’s just that sometimes we need to see them in a different light!

Signora Sheila

📷 Image credits: woman on shore; panic