Expectations?
 

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8 v28.

Last summer I was really looking forward to an exciting sailing holiday on the open sea. My trip was cancelled the day before I was due to go because the yacht had a catastrophic engine failure. (An engine is essential to manoeuvre into ports etc.)  

Expectations are high about summer holidays, after the pandemic holiday bans, but sometimes holidays fail to fulfil our dreams. Flights get cancelled. We get stuck in traffic jams for hours. Your hotel falls short of what the brochure promised.

Disappointment naturally follows dashed dreams. It may be better to focus on your intentions. You might need to reconnect with your travel companion or family members, to do some essential re-bonding. You may need to focus on chillaxing after a busy time at work.

Dealing with your disappointment isn’t easy. It’s important to express your feelings and then move on before the rot sets in. ‘At least we’re together’ is a positive, healing response to your disappointment, because "If you never heal from what hurt you, you'll bleed on people who didn't cut you”.

Giving thanks for all you have in the face of destroyed dreams is hard, but is an essential part of the healing process. Living in the moment, savouring all the good little things God gives including health, good relationships, enough food and a safe home life.

I was absolutely gutted when my sailing trip was cancelled last year. I decided to focus my energies on doing up my racing dinghy prior to selling it. I was determined to transform my disappointment into an opportunity to achieve something positive.