Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me

Okay who else (besides my mother) knows the next line or 2? Give up? Okay ...

Gloom, despair and agony on me

Deep dark depression 

Excessive misery

If it weren't for bad luck

I'd have no luck at all

Gloom, despair and agony on me

I, personally, wasn't much of a Hee Haw fan. Not entirely sure if my parents were either. I kind of suspect that HeeHaw was one of my grandmother's viewing choices. Anyway, this little ditty was sung by the HeeHaw cast en masse, or by Buck Owens and Roy Rogers, with a major country twang. As soon as the verse was finished some person, or group of people, would pop up from behind a hay bale and tell some far fetched, funny, story relating their personal gloom, despair and bad luck.

All of that to say ... I'm not sure exactly why but even 40+ years later ... that song plays in my head every single time I am tempted to whine!

Don't get me wrong ... I have had plenty of bad stuff happen, especially in the last couple of years, and if I want to sit down and mourn my pitiful state most of my friends and family would either tolerate my pity party or sit right down and join me!

But the fact remains that I don't believe in luck ... of the good or the bad variety! I believe that God is in control and has a plan even in the midst of disaster. I have spent a fair amount of time lately telling Him that I don't understand why He has chosen to allow certain things to happen. (And mine are minor, in a big way, compared to earthquakes and tsunamis and genocide and child abuse and ...) When I can choose to remember the facts as they truly are the fact is that I live a very blessed life. And He doesn't owe me any explanations! Some things have been allowed as a result of my own choices. Others will make no human sense this side of Heaven. That's the way it is and whining isn't going to change it.

I hurt (BADLY) today and I don't like it and there is part of me that wants to throw a major pity party. But then that silly song plays in my head and I remember to look for the brighter side, to find a way to smile, or even to laugh. And to remember that none of this will last forever.

So go for it ... make me laugh! I dare you! :)