WISDOM WEDNESDAY

The first time I was hospitalized I kept thinking this too shall pass. I had not been sick or admitted in a hospital since my son was born. The second time I said “ok, I’ve been running to specialist after specialist now you all better fix me so I can go back to work!” Fast forward to the third time. I was a hot mess! Not only was I not fixed, I was told I could not go back to work! By this time I had another problem. Depression. I never thought it would happen to me. Sad, yes, mad, yes, but depressed to the point where I felt I just couldn’t take anymore, no. It got to the point where I dreaded facing the next day. I just thought I was stronger than that. There are many different types of depression. Depression often co-exists with other mental or physical illnesses. I’m no stranger to depression and mental illnesses. It has shown its ugly head in my family. For years in the black community, no one wanted to talk about depression. It was the family secret. Times have changed but sometimes there is a stigma still. Believe me when I say it can happen to anyone. Sometimes life can throw balls at you so fast and hard, you are unable to duck. So you isolate yourself and give up or give in to all those negative emotions. It. Can. Break. You. I thank God everyday that although I was bent, it did not break me. Although I was shattered, I did not break. I thought it made me weak to fall apart, but what it did was make me see how strong I really am. How strong I really am through Jesus Christ. No one wants to appear weak. Most of the time it is our pride at work. Weakness carries a great potential for strength, but pride can lead to destruction and defeat. The scriptures say so.You know how you have a savings account with extra money in the bank? God is our extra strength when we run out. I probably would not have been so depressed if I had withdrawn my strength from him in the first place. But that’s ok, God being God, when I did realize that I could not handle it in my own strength, he let me make my withdrawal and gave me interest. The interest was lessons learned. We should go to God first instead of trying to handle things ourselves, no matter how or what it is. Small issues become big issues. Our human minds can’t take but so much! On the other hand there is nothing to hard for God. We can conquer anything when he lives within us! Please, if you know someone who is suffering from depression, let them know you are there for them. I volunteer for a crisis hotline. There are support groups. They may just need someone to listen. We can always introduce or remind them about our friend Jesus who is able and willing to give us what we need. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of how good God is. I know I did. I also suggest educating yourself so you will know what you should or should not do. Every situation is different, just know depression is real. Much Love…