We All Face Disappointments
One of the important lessons we learn in life is that we don’t always get what we want when we want it – that disappointment is a normal experience in our learning process.
Life is filled with disappointments. Much of our time is spent solving the problems they present. Even the best plans and guarantees sometimes go awry.
Recently, three men again journeyed to outer space, a task which requires great preparation and detailed planning. But even as these men approached the very moment their flight was to begin, difficulties arose; and months, even years, of planning came to a halt. There was disappointment not only to the astronauts, but to the thousands who worked on the project and the millions more who watched or listened to the drama unfold. In this instance, the disappointment was short-lived and Apollo 17 was soon on its way headed for new challenges.
Similarly, there are times when we all face disappointments – both great and small. Whenever we take a trip and miss an appointment because of a travel delay, there is a letdown – a minor one to be sure, but one that must be faced, nevertheless, and adjustments made. So, too, we must face the major disillusionments of life, for if we do not learn to cope with small difficulties, the large ones will overwhelm us. Afterward, we must learn to forget them and remember only the wisdom they may provide.
None of us seek or want difficulties in life, but they can be useful tools for personal growth and the development of firm, integrated character. They can even become new opportun1t1es. In fact, many times, these temporary setbacks have helped men find God and new reasons for living.
It is dangerous and unrealistic to believe that we can avoid disappointments in life – especially so for children. We should help them learn and understand that lesson before they become set in a mold of unreasonable expectation.
And so, as we review our blessings during this holiday season, it would be well for us to acknowledge disappointment as a potentially meaningful part of life on earth. When we accept that principle and properly apply it, disappointments can be a blessing.
December 03, 1972
Broadcast Number 2,256