Christian Counseling & Educational Services

“I feel obligated to do it and I hate feeling obligated.” My teenage son was struggling with not wanting to go some place and my immediate response to him was an unspoken, “I do things all the time that I don’t want to do! Just do it!”

Political changes and economic worry seem to be the major topics of conversation in our country right now, yet I know that many of you live every day with other uncertainties in your private world that seem greater than either of these. Major illness, death of a loved one, a poor marriage, caring for an elderly parent, an addiction (either your own or someone else’s), children making poor choices—you name it. The list could go on and on. It’s easy when you are exhausted and weary to give up and feel that you just can’t do it any more.

I don’t know who wrote the following story, but it holds a great truth for us all . . .

“A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee.

The young mother looked weary and worn as I gazed into her eyes. Lines of worry and stress crossed her forehead; years of bad choices and rough living told their story on her face. I was surprised to see her again. It had been 15 years since our paths crossed when she was an angry teenager. Recently at a crossroad in her life, she chose to walk a new path so today is a new day in her life! Now she finds hope and strength in the loving Heavenly Father whom she rejected for so many years. Now she holds on to the hand that was outstretched and waiting for her all the time.