Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.
I was surprised that this thought came to me while driving the other day. I am not a big fan of Lord of the Rings, though I enjoyed the movies. I couldn’t finish reading the books.
This exchange between Frodo and Gandalf taught me a lesson.
In difficult times, I feel exactly like Frodo – “I wish none of this had happened.”
Gandalf’s reply gives me a perspective of how my response to life’s difficulties should be. What I do with the time given to me shows who I am and what kind of faith I have in God. Do I complain, behave badly, walk away, give up, choose an easier route? Or do I stick it out, do my best, continue to love those who are difficult to love, continue to help those in need?