Perhaps you remember a special treasure that pacified and brought you comfort as a child. For me, it was a soft, red blanket decorated with a western theme that I drug around wherever I went – like Charles Schulz’s Linus. Whatever troubling elements came my way could be soothed by that blanket.

First Corinthians 13:11 says, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became [an adult], I put away childish things.” But even after childhood has fallen far behind us, life’s dark times and challenges continue to persist. Worrisome political strife, news events from around the country, the world or in our own backyard flourish and can bring alarm, sadness, depression or anxiety. Sudden loss of those close to us or those we hardly know can bring uncertainty to life, our future or our collective humanity. For some, the simple challenge of climbing stairs can bring torment, worry and moisture to the eyes.

Joining our daughter and family at the lake along with their young brood of three over Labor Day weekend, the weather was perfect and water calmer than it had been all summer. “Like glass” some might say.

Their youngest was ten months old and in full-fledged crawling mode at the time. Although happy as a clam sitting and playing with Rita’s measuring cups on the living room floor, she began to crawl toward just two steps leading up to the dining room to follow her “Gam-ma” to the kitchen. With both hands on the bottom step, she stood, then leaned forward to move both hands atop the second step. Since she had not yet learned how to climb stairs, her mother rushed to provide a lesson, bending one of her knees and placing it on the first step. Still unable to complete the step-climbing task herself, the little crawler began to cry uncontrollably. Her frustration and anxiety were obvious and her torment unconsolable. Her mother picked her up, set her back on the floor with toys again and placed a pacifier in her mouth. Instantly, she was calm, comforted and without tears. Do we as adults have a way to rediscover comfort, reassurance or child-like serenity again?

Although not a biblical scholar, when it comes to dealing with life’s troubled waters, I believe we can find consolation through guidance offered in The Good Book in addition to interactions with friends and family. This belief has led to what might be referred to as The Three Fs of Wellbeing – faith, family and friendships. This triad of comfort can bring calm when life’s wind blows and waters are not as smooth as glass. If family and friendships aren’t readily at hand, faith alone offers rejuvenated hope.

A relatable example of embracing comfort came for Rita and me only days before joining our daughter and family when we reunited with a classmate and his wife. For 50 years we have maintained cherished connections and traveled together with them from time to time. No matter when or where we have roamed, periodic communications via phone or written word have brought reassurance of life’s blessings in good or troubling times.

Family and friends can be there for us when the going gets rough, whether we connect over the phone or in person, while sharing homemade cookies or a bowl of chili. Faith likewise can dry our eyes, offer comfort and still waters as the 23rd Psalm describes. When the distressful winds of life blow, fear not. Life’s lake can become calm again.

No matter your age, what news reports say, where life’s path leads you or which way the wind blows, may your troubling roads be made smooth as you lean on The Three Fs of Wellbeing.