In recent weeks, I once again find myself in a place of grieving. Old losses surge like tidal waves leaving sadness, anger, emptiness, and anxiety behind. The cleanup continues with each aftershock. Eventually, maybe the waves become smaller and further apart, but not necessarily more manageable. For me, the biggest waves come with meaning dates or … [Read more...]
On this Day
The on this day memory you do not see in my news feed The on this day that lives in the corners of my memories every day The on this day that changed me in unexplainable ways For on this day a piece my heart died This day, five years ago, continues to shape my life. My empathy when others experience loss is greater. My faith and hope … [Read more...]
A new and different kind of Joy.
Our congregation planted a tree in honor of our elder. The children of the church helped pile the dirt over the roots. The grandchildren of our elder watered the soil and (with assistance) lowered the tree into the hole. This was an emotional few minutes. My sweet Madilynn (who I don’t take my eyes off of in moments like these) continued kicking … [Read more...]
A Growing Cloud of Witnesses
Sometimes we have no words for an event or situation. Sometimes the real problem is we have a jumble of too many words and getting them out or processing them interferes with all the emotions connected to the words. The past few days have been filled with such words and emotions for me. I’m once again pondering the brevity of our earthly lives … [Read more...]
Praying in the Cold
As the weather changes and the temperature begins to cool, grief looms at the doorway. Sometimes he intrudes in every room of the house. Other times, he takes up residence somewhere visible, knowing he can be seen yet without making a scene. Very rarely, he spills out from every opening, demanding attention. ♫ It’s a cold, cold world that we’re … [Read more...]
Not Fair
Life isn’t fair. I know because my mama told me so when I was about two or three years old. Too harsh, you might think, but in her defense, I was verbal by two and already opinionated. I could have been whining or complaining at the time. I think I whined a lot in my younger years and I still like to complain. Life isn’t fair when parents die. … [Read more...]
This Is How We Overcome: A Christian’s Cognitive Behavior Therapy
I truly didn’t expect my mind/fingers to go in the direction they did with my second power to overcome post, nor did I realize I had so many things to say on the topic after all. When I first began meditating over the “more than conquerors” scripture, I had a friend in mind – a friend going through a low valley. Then my thoughts drifted to other … [Read more...]