Real Life

I was in the post office today. The clerk had the radio on and I heard the lyrics of an old song I've never heard before. The lyrics repeated over and over again,

"Let the good times roll..."

I was humming it on my way back to my car, and I thought. "I love it when the good times roll."

But I've realized, that's not real life.

Real life means pain and hardship and struggles and stress and persecution and despair.

I looked up the song and the lyrics talk about getting together, finding fun, and letting the good times roll.

I'm not saying that good times never happen in our life. Because they do.

But real life is good times and bad times. I don't think anyone can say they encounter a week, much less a day, where they experience an absence of problems and turmoil.

You can look up millionaires and celebrities and people who seem to be so thrilled about life, and I guarantee if you asked them, they wouldn't tell you, "Oh yes, the good times always roll."

The good times may roll, and I love it as much as the next guy when they do, but we also have problems.

Real life means stress. And I realized that today. I got all these papers in the mail for student teaching. Including my first quarter schedule. This is what it looks like (the math, music, etc. are methods courses- how to teach those subjects- in other words, college courses with homework- you can click on the photo to enlarge it if you can't read the text.)

Will the good times roll during student teaching? Yeah, without a doubt. 

Will there be stress during student teaching? Yes, without a doubt- especially Wed./Thur., but really on Monday. Class, teaching all day, class, then work at the library. 

Will I be totally exhausted and busy? Well, duh! Yes!

That's real life! 

But I have comfort knowing that there is someone with me. Real life means God is with me. All of the time. Hebrews 13:5- "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

Never is a strong word. Real life means Jesus never leaves. Whether the good times are rolling, or the bad times are dominating, Jesus is right there with us.

Let the good times roll! Yes! I love that. But real life also means stress and problems. 

Thankfully, we have a God who goes with us in both times to meet them.