Lemonade

We have all heard the phrase "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." I recently found a song with that very phrase called, simply, "Lemonade" by Boye. Both the phrase and the song encourage us to make our world better by having a better attitude. That should be easy, right?!  I must confess, that phrase has been an incredible challenge to me.

As a college student and part-time employee, I lead a very busy life--but who doesn't, really? Even though I like to be busy, I find myself losing sight of what really matters in life in my drive to accomplish the things that need to be done. This semester has lend itself to some hard knocks and many tears. I have found myself often times feeling very grumpy and irritated. One night, I was sitting in class, obviously exuding a very unpleasant demeanor. The guy next to me inquired about my attitude and simply asked "Are you ok?" I shoved his comment off with an "I'm really tired" and continued with my poor attitude.

 Inside, I felt frustrated at myself, my life, my attitude, my classes, everything. I felt like my life was an endless hamster wheel of responsibilities, disappointments, frustrations, and "no's". In reality, I had been given lemons and I was clutching them very close to my heart and rubbing their spongy peel, refusing to squeeze them out and make something yummy out of them. I wanted to continue to pet my sour friends and live a miserable life.

As funny as this may sound, this has been the reality of my struggles. 

This weekend. I had been pondering the power of examples and considering the fact that there are people everywhere watching me and how I life my life, what attitude I give off, what I wear, where I go, how I act, etc. This was somewhat alarming to me. So, as I taxied my brother to work today, I was opening up to him about what I had been thinking about. We were discussing how important it is to be a good example so we are not a stumbling block to some one else down the road of life. We both agreed that it was really important and quite scary how people watch us so closely.

As a result of my recent pondering, I have realized that showing God's love does not mean wearing a skirt all of the time and pasting on a smile everywhere I go. It means squeezing each lemon I am handed, adding the sugar of God's love, and some water, which is prayer, to the mix to produce a product that is not only wonderful to taste, but something that can be shared.

Even though I want my whole life to be centered around God's love, I, somehow, tend to get wrapped up in my busy life that I lose sight of that goal entirely--which is so human and so annoying. Good news though! I am a work in progress so I will not give up. I intend to keep the most important things in view--such as serving God and showing God's love, which, after all, is the very basis of Christianity anyway.

So, as I endeavor to make lemonade, I will also be having mini meltdowns and irritated sighs. However, I will also be remembering: The lemons are the sour that enables the outpouring of God's sweetness. It is the balance of life, so we learn to depend on him. It is the thing that keeps our minds focused on the one that distributes the sugar and water. 

 Lemons are not good by themselves, but with some sugar and water, it can make a wonderful drink. Trials are not good by themselves, but with God's love and much prayer, it can make a Beautiful You.