If politics were better, if church members were better, if my house was clean, if my children were obedient, if my concert were over, if my laundry was caught up, if Ben weren’t out of town, if Austin were potty trained, if I didn’t have depression,  if I had a “neurotypical brain,” if…..if……then, I would be happy.  Then the fear would go away.  Then the fear and shame dreams would go away.  Then the spirit of contention would leave my home.  Living in the future keeps happiness and peace always a footstep away.  Like the stupid donkey who follows the carrot that is constantly held a few feet in front of him, success and accomplishment are forever out of reach.  When will he learn wisdom?  Joy is had in the present, not the future!  The future is where stress and fear live.  The present is where beauty is.  The present is where the Savior is.

The scriptures say that to God past, present and future are always before him.  To me, that means that he has no stress or fear from the future, and no regret from the past.  He lives in the NOW.  He sees all three, but he doesn’t live in all three.  The present is the only moment that matters.

Before I went to Sundance Psychiatric hospital six years ago, I packed my bag and prepared to leave my house–My house with the filthy carpet, toys all over, and dishes in the sink.  I had been filled with rage for so long because of the endless chores and frustration of keeping the house.  When I prepared to leave, not knowing when I would be back, tears filled my eyes.  I didn’t see a house full of chores, I saw my home.  Everything was suddenly so beautiful!  My children, the toys, even the ratty carpet seemed to have a strange nostalgic beauty.  I distinctly remember walking out my front door and seeing my hanging basket full of Vinca flowers and feeling the sunlight warm on my face.  Perhaps I glanced for a moment at the fall weeds that flourished in the lawn, but the shame was strangely gone.  I saw the flowers, not the weeds.  When the future was so uncertain as to be impossible to live in, I spent a few peaceful moments in the present, being grateful for my life.

My house is warm, my pantry is full, my children are healthy.  I have clothing, hats, mittens, and a gas fireplace, and I have a day of peace and quiet while Austin is cared for at preschool, I have a gorgeous Christmas tree, I have a hot shower, I have friends that love and value me.  I have one more day to breathe the chilly December air, testify of my Lord and Savior, and strive again to be his handmaid.  Blessed be the name of Him who is Mighty to Save!

As I have dealt with depression over the years, I have a complicated relationship with the word gratitude.  It is the depression bandaid passed out by so many well meaning who lack true understanding of the burdens I carry.  It can cut like a knife when heard through the filter of depression.  Depression magnifies negative shaming messages like a megaphone in your ear.  You don’t see the love and concern and desire to help when your friend says, “You have such a great life!  Look at all the people who would love to be you and have the things you have.  You should be grateful.”  The only thing the depression ears here is “YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL!  YOU PATHETIC HUMAN BEING!”  Being the friend of a depressed person is not easy.  They will find the cudgel in the most well meaning messages!

On the other hand, the habit of gratitude is the best long-term depression solution IMHO.  Nothing can calm the fears, motivate the mind, and heal the heart like gratitude!  One therapist had me write three things I was grateful for every night before I went to bed.  It was easier to go to sleep, I slept better, and I woke with a more positive outlook on my life.  Gratitude allows you to see God and his hand in your life.  He loves you!  He wants to bless you.  He doesn’t want you to live in fear and shame.  He sees your sins and weaknesses and loves you anyway.  He is grateful for YOU.   Imagine that?  He sees what you are, not what you aren’t.  Could you do that?  Could you see yourself as he does?  He sees pure truth and the truth he sees is, you are his child, full of divine potential.

Children live in the present.  It can be extraordinarily frustrating for adults because they have no sense of time, of schedules, of efficient transitions.  The family is rushing around trying to get to soccer practice, church, a school activity, or whatever, and Austin saw a butterfly in the garden.  The whole world has stopped for him as he delights in that moment.  He drinks it in.  He ignores the shouting and the stress, and he wanders into the garden to get a better look.  There is a squirrel in the tree, a spider on the sidewalk, an ant mound in the grass.  There is a pretty leaf on the driveway, a rock in the flowerbed, a bird has just sung her song.  He delights in every sight and sound.  “Momma!  Momma!  Wook!”  I scoop him up as he points and cries and tries to show me the beautiful things God gave him to see.  “We’re late, Austin.  Let’s get in the van and go bye-bye,” I insist with worry lines etched in my forehead, and my breath coming in shallow bursts.  Austin tries to get me to live in the present and see God in my life, but I don’t have time.  I am chasing the carrot of the future.

Therapy helps me to live in the present.  Yoga helps me to live in the present.  Breathing is a gift.  In the Christmas Devotional broadcast we watched on Sunday, one of the speakers mentioned the gift of breath.  Yoga teaches you to focus your mind on something boring.  Breathing.  That is extraordinarily difficult for an ADHD mind to do!  If you can value your ability to breathe, and find gratitude in that gift from God, you will be well on your way to developing the habit of gratitude.

Another thing I do that has helped me live in the present is to make a conscious effort be a child again.  It isn’t always possible, but whenever I can, I walk with Austin in the garden.  I let him take the lead.  He shows me the treasures of the present: a pile of acorns, a muddy toy he found, a flower that survived the frost the night before, a big black beetle.  I watch his YouTube shows with him and immerse myself in the world of make believe where “bad men” and “heroes” engage in timeless conflict for eternity.  I let go of stress and shame and let him lead me into his world, of play and magic.  The present moment with all its delights is best seen through the eyes of my little Austin. 

When Wesley was his age, I used to let him lead me out of his preschool class.  He had the same routine every day.  He would sit on every bench on his way out the door.  I think there were three or four.  I would sit next to him until he signaled to me that it was time to move to the next bench.  After a while, the school principal noticed our strange habit.  Ms. Danielle is a master teacher, and her heart was touched by our little ritual.  “Someday he won’t want to sit on the benches anymore,” she said wisely.  Eventually Wesley was no longer interested in those benches.  Now Austin goes to the same school, and we sit on the benches again.  Until he grows out of that stage, which will be too soon.

Oh that I were an angel and could have the wish of my heart!  I would speak of these things to all mankind.  The God of our fathers is Mighty to Save!  He has given all his children gifts great and small.  There is no nation that lives void of the sunlight of his mercy!  His tender mercies are upon all those who humble themselves as a little child and confess his hand in all things!  Let us find our Savior who lives in the present moment of our lives.  He will not drive us into the future, nor will he shame us for the past.  He will lead us to green pastures where we shall want for nothing even in our days of tribulation!  Blessed be his name!