Do You Feel Like Your Sparkles Have Fallen Off?

A few months ago, I received a hand-crafted Valentine from my daughter. On the cover, “Happy Valentine’s Day” was written in gold glitter.

Inside, the message said, “Don’t shake your card too hard or all your sparkles will fall off.”

It’s so much like my daughter, to give me a card with instructions. It makes me smile to think of it even now, all these weeks later.

A few days after Valentine’s Day—when memories of a friend who died 10 years earlier were fresh on my mind, when our schedule was all thrown out of whack due to extreme cold and snow, when my parents’ personal effects were strewn all over the basement as I work on organizing them—I woke up and just felt sad.

Thinking of Molly’s card, I sent Randy a brief text message: “I feel like my sparkles have fallen off,” I told him.

I’m wondering if you can relate. Perhaps, like me, you’re generally upbeat and optimistic, or at least fairly consistent when it comes to how you feel. Maybe not all the time, this last year especially. But overall, most of the time.

Or maybe you’re more prone to emotional ups and downs but you thought you had found a good rhythm, finally. Then something happens and the bottom just drops out.

One day you were feeling fine; the next day, it’s like you drank a gallon of blue.

Could be hormones, could be that you’re tired, could be you’re getting sick, could be an unexpected obstacle or setback is affecting you more than you thought.

It could be anything, really. And—this is what makes it even more fun—what it is this time might not be the culprit next time. (Because yes, there will likely be a next time.)

Having gone through this whole cycle a few times recently, I have some thoughts. Actually, I have three observations, three actions and three scriptures for you. They’re not a one-size-fits-all remedy for the occasional blues, but I hope they help.

Three observations:

• Feelings are not truth. They’re real, but they might not be an accurate picture of reality.

• You’re not alone. Others feel the same, some more acutely.

• Just because you feel like this today doesn’t mean you will feel like this tomorrow.

Three actions:

• Tell God how you feel. Don’t worry about whether or not your words make sense, or sound good, or seem worthy to copy and paste into an Instagram post. Just pray. Cast your cares on him one by one, no holds barred. Out loud or in writing. Just do it.

• Talk to a person about it, in person if possible.

• Go outside. Take a walk, or weed your flowerbeds, or just sit on a chair in the sun.

Three scriptures:

• “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:13-14)

• “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5b)

• “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I praise Him with my song.” (Psalm 28:7)

Finally—and this is important—if you are feeling like its been weeks or months since your sparkles fell off, or you can’t remember ever having sparkles at all, it might be time to seek additional help. Talk to your doctor, ask a friend to recommend a counselor, share your feelings with your spouse or sister.

Trust me—life is too short to spend it feeling bad all the time.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, Inspire Me Monday, #HeartEncouragement and Grace & Truth.