Laughing Through the Tears (Because God’s Still Good)

 

Today has definitely been one of those days where I’ve had to take life one moment at a time—and smile when the tears start coming. This morning was already heavy, trying to navigate my child’s grades and the weight of possible retention. That kind of worry sits in your chest and doesn’t leave much room to breathe. Then this afternoon rolls around, and since I have to work tonight, I come home to regroup… only to walk inside and discover my German shepherd has decided the middle of my kitchen floor is the appropriate place to potty. And mind you—we live in a tiny house. There’s no “other room” to ignore it in.

This all started after we kept a rescue over the weekend. Once she left, Bella apparently decided this was her new coping mechanism. I don’t understand it at all. So there I stood, tears sliding down my face, laughing like a woman who’s clearly reached her limit, cleaning up the mess and mopping the floor. Then it was everyone outside—feeding the dogs outside, feeding the pig, feeding the goat. Naturally, the pig eats the dog food, the goat eats the pig food, and the dogs are offended because the pig refuses to respect boundaries. The chickens need water. It’s freezing—well, Alabama freezing. Forty-five degrees feels like summertime compared to last week’s teens, but still.

By the end of it all, I realized this has been one of those days where every giggle came with a tear. I know there’s a reason things happen. I know the Lord allows trials to stretch us, test us, grow us. But on days like this, I admit—I wonder what the lesson is supposed to be. I feel myself questioning, and then just as quickly, I feel the pull to hit my knees and pray harder for mercy. Because even in the mess, even in the exhaustion, I know He’s still good… and sometimes the only faithful thing left to do is laugh through the tears and keep going one minute at a time.

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” — Proverbs 16:9

Some days those steps lead straight through messes, tears, and absolute chaos. But even then, I trust He’s walking with me through it all—one moment, one prayer, and sometimes one laugh at a time.