A Lesson from the Terrifying Uh-Oh Baby

My current favorite comic strip is Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson. It's hilarious! This week, Alice and her friends were terrorized by the Uh-Oh Baby. I posted some of my favorites from this week, so you can laugh along with me (if my blogscreen cuts off the right side, just click on the picture for a full view):





I started to wonder: what is it that makes the Uh-Oh Baby so terrifying? The fact that it goes around ominously anticipating doom? Or is it just letting them know something bad happened? Is it that the baby can't seem to say anything else? Or that the baby is so adamant about its gruesome message?

Possibly, the baby is scary for all of these reasons. After all, there must be something to look forward to or feel happy about, right? Do each of us play the part of the Uh-Oh Baby from time to time? Shouldn't we be counting our blessings instead of our hardships? There's only so much doom and gloom a person (okay, me) can listen to before they (again, me) want to run from the room screaming.

Everyone has problems, and heaven knows I need someone to listen to me complain every once in awhile, but I hope that I can find something in every day and every situation to be grateful for. Often, I can even find positive lessons within my hardships, and those are the most valued blessings of all. I think I'll work on those a little bit more.

On the flip side though, I want to pick that cartoon Uh-Oh Baby up and give it a big hug and tell it everything will be okay. Sometimes all I can do for a loved one during their bad day is listen and offer hugs. And sometimes when I'm having a bad day all I need is someone to listen and to love me. Sad indeed is the Uh-Oh Baby that everyone runs away from. Guess the secret is to offer Uh-Ohs in moderation, and to remember that no bad day can last forever.

So, the next time I feel like an Uh-Oh Baby, I'll seek out someone I trust for a hug, and make more of an effort to follow the advice of that wonderfully cheesy hymn:

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

So amid the conflict whether great or small
Do not be discouraged; God is over all!
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God has done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.