The Sweet Stuff at the Bottom

Today I noticed an extra strong scent of citrus when I used my liquid shower soap. As I enjoyed the heightened smell, I wondered, 'why does it suddenly smell so strong?' It occurred to me that since the soap is almost gone, I must be smelling more fragrance because it has settled to the bottom.

A cliche ran through my head: Saving the best for last. Isn't this true of most things? The 'sweet stuff' is always at the bottom. Like the sugar at the bottom of a box of Rice Krispies. Or the syrup at the bottom of a Raspberry Lime Rickey. Just when you're tempted to be disappointed that it's almost gone, BAM, you get a rush of intense flavor.

I'm sure this wisdom can be applied to life. Endings can be so sad, disappointing, and stressful. But if we choose to see differently, we notice the hope at the bottom of a barrel. I'm reminded of a time when my husband lost his job. We were petrified as we had recently purchased a new home. Within months (which seemed like years at the time) my husband had secured the best job he'd had to that date; and in a field of work that suited him better!

I'll bet if we tried hard enough, we could see every ending as a gift. And if we tried really hard, we might even be able to enjoy the gift, reminding ourselves that when we think we've hit rock bottom, we simply need to open our eyes and be patient to find the sweetness that will energize us with a blast of hope. Hope comes in varying forms: a new job, clarity, self-awareness, freedom. Sometimes we can only see clearly when that which has consumed us is gone.

So if you, too, are facing an end - the end of the job, the end of the money, the end of a relationship, the end of your patience - remember, the best is waiting for you at the bottom.