Keeping Perspective

We've been through some interesting times.  Here's a partial list of adventures of our family members:

Chronic illness.
Premature birth.
Surgery.
More surgery.
More surgery.
A little more surgery.
Several moves.
Getting fired.
Car trouble.
More car trouble.
Lots more car trouble.
House trouble.
Car wrecks.
Financial troubles and debt.
More financial troubles and debt.
Still more financial troubles and debt.
Troubles with health insurance.
Troubles with medical bills.
Troubles with unethical businesses.
Getting hit by a car while walking.
Having the house flood.
Having the house flood some more.
Yep, more flooding.
Having the house burgled.
Bullies.
Illness of family members.
Academic troubles.
Troubles at work.
Having people in our house yelling at us.
Relationship issues.
Chronic pain.
Dental troubles.
Runaways.
Suicide attempts.
Two stays in a psychiatric facility.
Self-mutilation.
Gossip.
Depression.
Anxiety.
Anger.
Mania.
Loneliness.
Lots of counseling.
Death of pets.
Death of friends.
Death of family members.

I could probably come up with some more.  It's been eventful, honestly, and nineteen of the items on the list are in the here-and-now.

How do we keep perspective?
1. We pray.
2. We joke.
3. We show love to each other by spending time with, taking care of, and affirming one another.
4. We remind ourselves that whatever else may happen God's in control and "this too shall pass."
5. We count our blessings.
6. We stay focused on what's important.

It's amazing how well that works.

Hope all's well out there, friends, and God bless.