Dread…

Let’s face it, we all dread doing some things. Whether it’s laundry, washing dishes, going shopping, or going to an event, we all dread doing stuff sometimes.

I had something I have been dreading going to come up this past week. We lost our older son about six months ago. He loved playing soccer ever since he was little. He played year-round between club, high school, and the ODP. This past week was the orange and blue game at his high school, which is the kickoff for the season. Our nephew plays on the team as well, so we decided to attend the game to watch him and several of the other boys our son played with for years. Let’s just say it was extremely difficult to be there. I found myself looking for our son running on the field several times.

I knew we would be surrounded by family and friends that would be very supportive and caring for us, but we still dreaded going there. I dreaded going to the place that our son loved to be. I dreaded being around his classmates and friends. I dreaded putting myself in an uncomfortable position. The question is, should I have dreaded those things?

It is understandable why we dread doing certain things, but the reality is, those same things need to be taken care of. Instead of dreading things, worrying, or procrastinating, face them head on and push through. Once you complete the task, go to the event, or deal with the issue, things are always better on the other side. In this instance, I know I can go to more games. I know what to expect with my emotions, and how others will interact with us. I am sure the next game will be more enjoyable for me to attend.

I believe dread is a good emotion. It shows us what we need to face to become stronger. If we avoided all the hard stuff, the messy stuff, the difficult relationships, or just stay in our comfort zone, we will never grow to our full potential.

In the Bible, Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus says “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, an only a few ever find it.” That verse tells me that we have to navigate the hard roads and live our lives with integrity in order to truly live out our purpose. 

We don’t always get to choose what road we are on, but we can always decide to kick things in gear and do what needs to be done to be able to truly live our best life.