When Setbacks Happen Do the Cha-Cha
How do you deal with the challenges you are facing? No matter what troubles you have. Don't sit it out, and don't do it alone.
"Optimist: Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it's a cha-cha."
—Robert Brault
We live in a world of blame and excuse. When people can't move forward in life, it's often framed as being their parents' fault, or the government's fault, or the anyone else's fault. But there are people who have chosen not to take that path. Amy Purdy is one of those people.
Amy Purdy was a contestant on last year's Dancing With the Stars. She was an inspiration for all who watched her. Amy survived bacterial meningitis in 1999 at age 19, even though the infection robbed her of her legs, kidney function, and the hearing in one ear.
During week three of Dancing With the Stars, Amy dedicated the dance to her father. Amy's father had given her a kidney and, during a painful rehabilitation process, helped her get back on her feet by dancing with her. "People got to see more of my story and see who helped me through this journey, but also feel empowered by it," she said. "That's what that dance was all about! It wasn't to make people sad. It was to show that you can be in the depths of despair and then find your way to the top and express that." The dance brought many people to tears! You can see this dance here.
There are times in our lives that we are met with some pretty serious challenges. We can slip and lose the progress we have made by taking steps backwards. People who get back up and start taking steps forward again—no matter the obstacles—are the ones who inspire others to keep moving forward as well. And some, like Amy, even do it with major obstacles.
Despite her challenges, Amy put forth the effort to get up and dance! You can too, no matter what troubles you have. Don't sit it out, and don't do it alone. Ask God for help. Just like Amy needed help from her father, we also need help from our Father in Heaven. Just like Amy, who could not have survived without her father's help, we cannot survive without our Heavenly Father. Amy's dad went so far as to even give up his liver so his daughter would live. Our Heavenly Father allowed His only Son to die a brutal death for us, so we would live.
Our Father gives us so much encouragement in the Bible: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
In Deuteronomy we read: "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). So get back up, move forward, and dance!
And while you are dancing and moving forward, remember these words: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing" (Zephaniah 3:17). Wow!
Remember the quote from Robert Brault—when setbacks happen, do the cha-cha!
Course Content
Janet Treadway
Janet Treadway was born in Washington, D.C., but was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. She started attending the Church of God with her mother at the age of 14 along with her twin brother, Jim.
She was baptized at the age of 19 in 1974. She has been involved in various activities, such as serving as the managing editor of UCG’s first teen magazine UsTeens, which was distributed worldwide and published in English and Spanish.
Janet’s first love is writing. She has contributed many articles in various publications such as Vertical Thought, Virtual Christian Magazine, United News and others. Her article “Take Action, Your Life May Depend on It” is also featured in the reprint “The Cycle of Abuse.” Janet draws from her own life’s experiences and challenges when she writes and is motivated to give readers hope that God will see them through anything.
Janet has worked in the home office of the United Church of God since 1998. She is married to Charles Treadway and has four children, David, Michelle, Michael and Josh, as well as six grandchildren and two granddogs, Jo Jo and Vinny.
