Lemons to Lemonade

The 2020 pandemic has all of us desperately trying to figure out how to turn lemons into lemonade.

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling completely bewildered, lost, and extremely confused. Okay, well most of you know I’m like that normally but I’m finding my absentmindedness a bit more unmanageable these days. No one seems to really know exactly what to do and its causing frustration, fear, stress and depression for most of us.

Well, Chin up everyone!

Let’s turn life’s lemons into lemonade……..

Really?

I understand the concept of this particular proverbial phrase yet it has a different meaning to me. Lemonade is delicious. It’s sweet, refreshing, and pure perfection on a blistering summer day. But lets face it, lemons are seriously sour and no matter how much sugar you throw in the mix, lemonade still has a slightly bitter aftertaste. At least that’s the way God created my taste buds to perceive it.

That being said, turning the bitterness of life into sweet perfection seems impossible when I know there will always be a hint of sour mixed in. Now that I think about it, I guess this phrase makes perfect sense considering the pandemic we face today. No matter how much sugar we throw in the mix, life still has a bitter aftertaste for most folks right now.

Some are currently battling Corona while others fear becoming ill. Some have lost their jobs or understand termination is in the foreseeable future. Worn and broken they wake up each day faced with the uncertainty of how to get bills paid or put milk on the table. Others are faced with feelings of incompetence or lack of patience as they home school small children while many more are facing serious strains on their relationships be it marital, occupational or parental.

The latest commercials for Zoom and Tik Tok portray the uplifting idea that this madness is allowing us to spend more time with family or think that perhaps for a moment the world is slowing down so we can actually appreciate the world around us. We continue to pray and smile as we hold tight to our faith in theses troubled time, yet there is still a bitter aftertaste.

How do we overcome this atrocious predicament when it feels impossible to crawl out from under the protection of warm covers to face the ‘new normal’ and everything that comes along with it?

We must accept that no matter how much sugar we throw in the mix, life will always have a bitter aftertaste.

One sweet day we will meet our heavenly Father in paradise. Until then, we need to wake up each day with no expectations about the moments ahead and let God sort all that out.

What hurtle are you facing that traps your mind in worry and concern? Is it the loss of a job posing a concern for you in this moment?

Please be certain that money will come. God always provides enough. Perhaps not the over abundance we daydream about but always plenty to survive.

Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes up the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? Luke 12:27-28

On days like this its good to know, I mean more to God than a flower in a field.

Is the illness itself a concern for you at this moment?

Corona is scary! Lives are on the line. The fear of catching this thing can consume you if you have a preexisting condition, if you’d just had extensive surgery or you feel you age is a factor. Perhaps you know you are healthy as a horse but your heart bursts with terror as you peer through the window of the nursing home staring into the eyes of a loved one who may not win if faced with the battle of this vicious virus.

“For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you’.” Isaiah 41:13

I feel like I’m grown up, but I’m always and forever a small child grasping faithfully to my heavenly Father’s hand.

Is homeschooling a concern for you int his moment?

For many of us, confidence in our own intelligence is on the line here and the patience to teach small minds is trifling. We must be certain of ourselves and know the the good Lord has created within us the brain power to help our little ones become champions in their current struggles. As far as patience, well I wouldn’t suggest praying for that. I did it once and life was terrible mess for about a decade after.

‘I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

You read that right, ALL things, not SOME things. God had this pandemic in mind when he created all us involuntary homeschooling parents out there.

Is a broken relationship a concern for you in this moment?

When times are difficult, we tend to take it out on those around us. Under quarantine, it seems as though we are just stuck with the worst or best roommate ever. we must continue to love one another, faults and all. Stress can produce anger and when anger is left unattended it explodes causing cracks and destruction to what we thought was a solid foundation.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on it’s own way; it is not irritable or resentful.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Love your neighbor is simple. It means everyone. Spouse, friend, child, co-worker, cashier at the end of the check out line. Remember the basic definition of love. Repeat 1 Corinthians in your mind over and over. Be patient. Be kind……. and kick your ego to the curb in order to maintain precious relationships. It’s hard work and it MUST be done.

Turn life’s lemons into lemonade!

I like lemonade that’s a tad bit on the tarty side. Nothing is ever perfectly sweet. There will always be a twinge of bitterness along life’s path and there’s nothing wrong with that. It keeps us grounded and pushing forward until we make it to heaven’s gate one sweet day.

Until we meet again, I pray for each of you during this bitter sweet season in life!

Hmmmmmm…….. wonder if salsa goes well with lemonade?