I love this quote: “Ships don’t sink because of the water around them: Ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s happening around you get inside and weigh you down.”
We all have favorite songs, but for me, “Sailing” by Christopher Cross holds the #1 position for life changing memories. It became popular when I set “sailing” for New York City to study acting with Lee Strasburg. I literally had to beg my parents to let me move away from Utah so I could finally study a craft that was my #1 fascination. Let me tell you it was such an exciting time in my life! I couldn’t believe I was on my own for the first time and in New York City no less! Besides fulfilling my dreams of acting, I was with a teacher who taught some of the best actors in film. But the cherry on top? New York City is where I fell in love with my sweetheart Steve! He had moved back East to play basketball and wouldn’t you know, he wasn’t very far away from me! 😉 He would drive to see me when possible and I would go see his games on weekends when possible. It was simply the best time of my life and even better... I was falling in love!
Then one night, I received a phone call from my parents that changed everything. My Mom was on the phone and she said words I will never forget, “Marie are you sitting down? There’s something I have to tell you.” Everything we had worked for financially was gone... millions! My Dad was so heartbroken he couldn’t even speak on the phone. He was my hero in every sense of the word and an amazing businessman. He had taken great effort to create an astounding investment portfolio for his children's retirement. My parents never took a cent of our money, so to see others destroy everything was heavy for him to bare. The realization I had to leave NY because I couldn’t afford to live there any more was devastating. So I packed up my dreams and everything else and moved back home to work and help the family try to recover.
Looking back, my ship didn’t quite go “sailing” ⛵️ in the direction I wanted to go but I refused to let the waters of discouragement get in my ship! It was one of those pivotal moments in my life where I learned WE can “choose our weather,” regardless of people, events or circumstances. It’s normal to wonder if we have the strength to keep going when life seems to be completely against us, but we can’t let the rough times sink our ships! The phone call I received that night was devastating but I have received other calls since then have tested my metal and continue to refine me (Psalms 66:10). Each time I relied on the Savior who said in Matthew 19:26, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Just like you, my life hasn’t always followed the path I planned. We all have had those major sorrows and disappointments, but when we are faced with “impossible” situations I promise the Savior will make them “possible” if we just rely on Him. 🙏
The Lord wants us to succeed and He will come running with the buckets to help us bail the “waters of discouragement” out of our ships. He is always there to rescue! I KNOW this is true!! Happy Sunday!