It sounds so good. Who wants our days to be hard? If there is a secret that can make it easy, who wouldn’t want that?! But we are called to be wise and discerning. I know that just because something sounds good and appeals to me doesn't mean that it's true. One way I know to test an idea is to look at other parts of the world and ask myself whether this idea fits what I know to be true. Are there other situations where we get to experience wonder-filled days, joyful times where our kids and ourselves are reaching our goals and desires? Well, yes. And no.
What do we do when we reach those moments? By all means, step back and see if there is a problem. Is there something that worked last season but it needs to change now? Am I holding expectations for my children or myself that are not reasonable? Or not reasonable for this particular stage of life? Am I trying to teach something that this child isn’t ready for? Does my curriculum treat children like persons? Am I teaching them as if they were born persons? Is everything else good, but it’s time for a rest? (We need those seasons of rest, but their purpose is to energize us so that we can get back on the trail. We can’t camp there if we want to reach the top.) When the going gets tough, it's important to do an inventory. If a trail is washed out, we don’t keep hiking, we reroute.
However... hard doesn’t always mean wrong. Can I say that again, for my own benefit if not for yours?
Do the hard things today, faithful friends, and you might find that the most delight-filled places are just over this next rise. May God bless us and give us the strength we need.