As I listen to my son play piano tonight, an original piece, I am made to think about the gift that is loss..........
Loss is rarely ever associated with receiving, but with sacrifice and a relinquishing of one's self, the suffering, and even shame and blame. What if "though I walk through the shadow of death", I know One stronger than I is with me. What if I could feel that presence sustain me..........
When viewed through the eyes of redemption, grief can only continue to give back to those who have felt its sting. What if "my cup overflows." What if goodness and mercy could follow me the rest of my life" as a result.
These are the questions I choose to ask rather than the why's of what has happened. Perhaps you can ask yourself the same of your situation.......
I have a big agenda for the holiday weekend which does not include hosting anything ironically. Our family has moved into a big shift in lifestyle; "hosting" is evolving into casual visits rather than big events. Our home is opening again, in new ways. Now, I just need furniture. LOL
Holiday plans are in the works already, as we expect to host a few Cali friends coming east smile emoticon We love our east to west coast connection and are so grateful for the friends we made. Friendship may look different there, the culture quite alluring; however, we would not trade the times we had............ or memories made. Our base has broadened and eyes opened.
I enjoyed breakfast with most of my kids, including Evan, this morning, on our way to outlet shopping smile emoticon We are having so much fun these days........ I think I am finding my way to happiness. It is honestly the simple things for me that make me happy. Seeing others free is at the top........
I spoke with a girlfriend recently about some difficult decisions that need to be made. It seems when suffering a loss, and if an empathic person, hurting another or causing pain is something we try to avoid. We know the heartache associated with loss and almost do anything to avoid it.........
There are many reasons we stay in certain relationships or situations; perhaps it is because we ourselves cannot bear another ache. For me, it ultimately comes down to my fears lessening while my faith rises.
Those aches have lessened for me, so either I am hardening, or I am rising up smile emoticon
#freedom2015