During this time of the world-wide pandemic, I’ve tried to look on the positive side of things, but I think it’s okay to acknowledge that this virus has brought disappointment to many. The true tragedy is losing a loved one to the virus, but others are hurting in many different ways. We don’t get to see our loved ones. Weddings, graduations, parties, sporting events, concerts, and trips have been cancelled.
I can speak to the cancelled trip. On this date, I would have been visiting my daughter and her family in New Jersey and hugging my granddaughters and playing silly games with them. A few days later our friends from Ohio would have joined us, and the four of us would have winged our way across the Atlantic to London and then on to Nice, France. We were going to tour southern France, then go into northern Italy to Milan and the Como Lake region.
Menaggio, Italy -The harbor on the Como lake
I would like to have taken my own photo of Lake Como rather than using one someone else has taken. Maybe next year, but maybe not. We also have a cruise starting out of Capetown, South Africa, in December. Those plans are uncertain.
There are other things in life that disappoint. I believe that’s what we authors use in our stories. Somewhere along the way our characters have been disappointed, many times with love, but other times with the people around them. Currently, the first book in my Front Porch Promises series, A Match to Call Ours, is on sale for 99 cents. In this story, the heroine, Brittany, is disappointed in love. As the story opens she has just broken up with her long-time boyfriend and certainly isn’t looking for love. The hero, Parker, has been disappointed by love as well, but his disappointment runs deeper because the people he thought were his friends turned away from him when he was accused of something he didn’t do.
Brittany tries to help him heal, but in the end, God is the one who heals. God gives us hope. I love this scripture from Romans that talks about the hope we have in God and how it does not disappoint.
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5 NRSV
How has God turned your disappointment into hope?
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
So sorry about your trip. Maybe in the future you can go. Lake Como is wonderful. I haven’t been to France or England but would love to go.
I was very disappointed when I lost my job out of the blue in 2011. However, it happened to show Mom and I that I needed to be home with her. I’ve been home with her 8 years now. In 2014 I got my license to be an insurance agent, taking what I learned working in the medical field to a new area. Then, this year, I started a proofreading business, and God has brought authors my way. Two things I never thought I’d be doing, enjoying them both, as they mean I can make money while I’m home with Mom, and all flexible so that I can do what I need to, when I need to. Hopefully, travel will be back, as one of my great-nephews was working on a cruise ship!
Life can be unpredictable, but God is constant! Thankfully He is faithful. Hope your cruise works out. God bless.
Disappointment these days is real. Canceled concerts, family events, graduations, weddings… the list goes on. We had tickets for us, our kids, and our grandkids to see Cirque du Soleil in June. Canceled. Thankfully refunded. We had been making plans for a trip to England in September. Thankfully we had not yet bought tickets. We aren’t sure if we’ll ever get to go, now (multiple reasons, but corona is a big one).
And yet we have it so good compared to many around the world!
Thanks, Gina. The pictures of Lake Como are certainly beautiful.
Trudy, I’m so happy that your jobs have worked out so you can care for your mother. God often puts us where He needs us even when we don’t realize it at first.
Diana, yes, God is constant. I’m so glad we can rely on that truth.
Valerie, sorry your trip got cancelled. So many people have had that happen. We are fortunate that we got all of our money back from the airlines, hotels, AirB&Bs. We are so grateful for that. AirB&B was really marvelous in working with us to get our refunds. We will definitely use them for a future trip. Yes, and I count myself as blessed in this time when so many are suffering much greater harm.
My husband and oldest daughter were taking a bucket list trip to Guam where she was born, but it was re-scheduled. They wanted it to be in April to honor her mom who passed last April. The praise is the new plans are better flights that take them out of areas that felt risky, and we all have a peace about the new dates.
We’re healthy and employed, and I never take that for granted.
Cancelled trips are no fun. We are with you there with a scuba trip cancelled in March and other anticipated events (Osh Kosh Air Show, family gatherings) being cancelled as well.
I am thankful to be a reader at this time. I can escape into HEA adventures anywhere in, under (ocean themes), or out of this world. :D Disappointments are a part of life, but how sweet to have positive diversions when it’s not possible to get outside and situations beyond our control throw us unexpected curves. This week was my first time back after 2 mos not working. I am going to miss the reading hours. ;D
We really did not have any major activities planned, but it has caused a long awaited surgery to be delayed by just over 2 months. The good news is that it is back on the schedule and will soon be behind me. The cancelled concerts and theater season has been something of a blessing since I’ve not really been able to attend any shows and there were many on the schedule I would love to see.
Good friends take a short vacation this time of year to celebrate their anniversary, but plans to go away are on hold. I understand that a day trip to a nearby town has been planned instead.
Julie, I’m so glad your daughter will get to take that trip. And we do need to count our blessings that we are healthy and employed.
Penelope, reading is a great escape. And we can even travel right there in our favorite reading spot. Best wishes with you going back to work.
Mary, it’s good that your surgery has been reschedule. We’ve had to reschedule a lot of things in the past couple of months. I’m glad you get to see your friend, if only for a short time.
I hear you on the disappointments brought about by this pandemic, Merrillee. I got stuck in Cape Town because of our lockdown. I’m now almost 2 months overdue from my original home return date, and have been separated from my hubby for ten weeks now. Although its wonderful to be stuck by my grandchildren and son, I do miss my hubby and my home. And it could be September before I can return home as the children might only be able to return to school then. I look forward to the day when this is all behind us.
I hear you on the disappointments brought about by this pandemic, Merrillee. I got stuck in Cape Town because of our lockdown. I’m now almost 2 months overdue from my original home return date, and have been separated from my hubby for ten weeks now. Although its wonderful to be stuck by my grandchildren and son, I do miss my hubby and my home. And it could be September before I can return home as the children might only be able to return to school then. I look forward to the day when this is all behind us.
Oh, if you do make it to Cape Town in December, let me know. If I’m down here and you have time, it would be great to meet for coffee.
Marion, that has got to be tough, not being home.
Marion, we will have to see. I know we got a notice earlier that they cruise line was not operating, but that may change by December. We just have to wait and see. We are planning to arrive a couple of days before our cruise, so maybe we can get together. That would be nice.
So sorry about your trip. My daughter and her husband were supposed to be on a cruise to Alaska right now to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary.
Lelia, I’m sorry your daughter and her husband didn’t get to go on their cruise. I do hope they will eventually get to go. We went on an Alaskan cruise for our 25th anniversary. Alaska is a marvelous place to visit.
I love when God opens other doors in the midst of disappointment.
Denise, so true!
Sorry you missed your trip. I was thinking you were going to the US open in Sept and that would have been a disappointment.
I was meant to spend a day with Narelle Atkins a couple weeks ago but it was cancelled due to the virus. (and if things had lifted still wouldn’t happened due to my states closed borders). I also had my Botox (for migraines) appointment cancelled which was a huge disappointment but It has been rescheduled for July. (5 weeks and counting and thankfully the pain hasn’t risen to be unbearable yet but I know its higher than it was).
Several years ago I was disappointed to not be able to go to the cricket because the cost was going to be so much more due to waiting to long to book accommodation. But I instead had a trip to Hawaii for 13 days which cost not much more than what I would have paid for about 6 days to go to the cricket.
So Sorry You missed your trip and I am So glad that Jesus is always in control of our lives He is so Amazing Blessing to each of You Wonderful Authors and Friends!
Jenny, besides our trip to France and Italy, I was planning to go to the US Open again this year. I’m glad your headaches haven’t been unbearable. We are opening up here, and I’ve been to the dentist for a cleaning and had my mammogram. I have a couple more scheduled in June. So glad to be freer to move about. On June 1, our tennis facility will open so we have restrooms available if we need them. We’ve been playing, but you have to make sure you don’t need the facilities. Too bad you didn’t get to see Narelle. Hopefully, soon.
Sarah, it is so wonderful to know that Jesus is in control.
More delayed gratification. Now they say that instant gratification is no good. It takes too long. I like that Romans passage as well. The whole chain: suffering, endurance, proven character, hope, God’s love by His Spirit. Then it starts over at the next level. Pick up where you find yourself in the list and move to the next and the next and the…