Disappointment

I have experienced a disappointment.

I am sad.

Please join me as I process through my thoughts and emotions.

Thank you.

~ae

To point is to make a direction known

with a physical gesture,

usually with the pointing finger.

To appoint is to officially designate someone

to a position or task.

An appointment is a planned time,

a scheduled engagement

or an assignment to a position.

In contrast,

a disappointment is a failure to meet an expectation or hope of;

the state of emotion of being disappointed;

confirmed as not adequately equipped.

Shouldn’t disappointment simply indicate

that an appointment has been cancelled,

that someone’s position or task has been removed,

or that you put your finger down?

Why is it that to point,

to appoint

and to make an appointment

are usually positive mental exercises,

factual in nature,

almost never stirring or even involving emotion…

Yet when the tables are turned,

when the current ebbs,

when control is relinquished,

emotion suddenly emerges larger than life?

Before the appointment occurs,

there is no thought of giving anything up

because it doesn’t exist.

However, as soon as plans are made,

goals are in place,

action has been taken to move in a direction,

there it is…

a point of focus,

a confirmed value,

a satisfied decision…

an uncertainty made certain

then placed neatly and precisely

into a little mental box for safekeeping.

Unfortunately,

there is no allowance for change

without disrupting or destroying the box.

So, is it okay for me to feel sad

when I find out that none of my older kids

will be coming home for spring break after all? Yes.

Did I cry?  Yes.

Should I allow my emotion to carry me

into frustration?

complaining?

anger?

bitterness?

blaming?

depression?

There are instructions against these attitudes and actions

in the Scriptures.

There is also clear guidance for me

in the face of disappointments…

“But the fruit of the Spirit

is love, joy,

peace

patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,

self-control;

against such things there is no law.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus

have crucified the flesh

with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

~Galatians 5:22-25