Coping with Disappointment

Disappointment is defined as a failure to meet expectations or hopes.  To avoid disappointments, one must not have expectations or hopes.  That is nonsense!  What is life if there are no hopes, no expectations, no dreams, no goals?  When one lives, one lives with all these as well as with disappointments.  The key is not to avoid disappointments, but to cope with them.

But how does the Swallow pass this knowledge on to her young ones?

One of the Swallow's young ones was recently selected to join her cohort for a 3-days / 2-nights overseas learning journey to Malacca.  The Swallow and her mate did not know what to do.  Should they let her go?  What would be the consequences of them saying yes?  Or no?

They decided to commit the matter to their Lord God.  A practice of theirs to knowing God's will for them was that there would be a singleness of heart and mind.  It must be a united decision.  This was to avoid any finger-pointing or blame-game if things went awry.  This time was no exception.  After praying together, both their hearts were heavy when they considered saying yes to their young one.

Their young one was definitely disappointed.  Of course there were tears and pleadings for them to change their minds, but the Swallow and her mate shared with their young one that although she didn't have a say in the selection (the teachers did), nor was she the one to decide whether she could go (her parents were the ones to decide), she did have a choice as to how she would react to the decision.

Did the Swallow and her mate make a decision that may affect their young one drastically?  Will their young one lack some aspects in her character because she was not allowed this chance?

How will one ever know whether one has made a right decision, except on hindsight?  When one is faced with an unknown future, one can only do one's best.  The Swallow and her mate had committed the matter to their Lord God.  Now they can only trust Him to continue seeing them through, whatever the outcome.  In this case, the Swallow and her mate will never be disappointed.  Their Lord God is faithful, and He alone knows the future!  What comfort!