The PLOM Pillow

All of us own a PLOM pillow, whether we admit it or not.

I feel certain now you are wondering what exactly is a PLOM pillow?

Years ago, someone told me that PLOM stood for “poor little old me”. They had a friend who actually made a pillow with those large bold letters embroidered on the front. Life sometimes makes us want to just sit and hold that pillow.

None of us probably own such a unique pillow, but I personally have felt the emotions that go hand in hand with that saying, “poor little old me”. Maybe you have too, because we humans have emotions, worries, and a variety of hard situations that life doles out. We may have even come to the conclusion that life really isn’t fair.

Headlines everywhere speak of the high levels of anxiety people are living with today. Anxiety can smother us, sucking the very life out of every inch of our body. Have you ever experienced that? It is draining and robs you of life. I suspect the Israelites felt that way out in the steaming hot dessert, wandering around for forty years. Things weren’t going so well, and their anxiety level was off the chart, as they looked for the promised land.

You will be happy to know there is a solution for anxiety. No, it’s not the latest pharmaceutical drug you see advertised almost daily on television. I believe it means connecting not only with yourself, but with our heavenly Father and his Son Jesus. Sounds almost too simple, doesn’t it?

God’s word assures us in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. That might sound like some sort of a pat answer. In our minds some situations may seem to demand more. But when we pray, releasing our anxiety and concerns to God, he hears our cries. When we have been fighting cancer, he hears us. When our child is lost spiritually, he hears us and knows us. He is a loving father who wants what is the very best for us.

That PLOM pillow we discussed earlier may seem like the solution, but the true solution is to offer our problems to him. Everyone has problems, no one is exempt. But we have a God who rules over the universe, who listens and answers our prayers.

There is one other step that I find helpful to take. Instead of focusing too long on our own problems, after we have gone to God, we can turn our attention to helping others.

Sometimes when we set aside our own problems and offer a kind word, even to a stranger, it can change that person’s day. It’s almost like you are handing out a little kindness bonus to people who cross your path.

As I recently reminded a longtime friend, you my dear reader have gifts that you need to be sharing with others. Maybe you have been bogged down with your own worries. I’m guessing whatever is going on in your life is likely out of your control. It is what it is. You can quote me on that.

A favorite bible verse of mine is, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Many years ago, while living alone and during a period of depression, one of the ways I coped was to mail out cards to friends, hoping to encourage them. That simple act helped me focus on others and what they were going through, instead of focusing on myself, and it helped tremendously.

Our calling is to help one another carry our burdens. It is part of the job description for Christians, it isn’t optional. It is okay if you end up deciding to just sit on the couch tightly clutching your PLOM pillow. But my suggestion is to consider letting go of that pillow, Go to God, and then go help someone carry their burdens.

I promise, you will not only transform someone else’s life, but your own as well.