Let Your Heart Grieve A While Longer

May 25, 2023May 24, 2023 / The WheatandTares / Leave a comment

Sometimes, things just don’t turn out as they should.

Sometimes, dreams are stolen, hearts are broken, and everyone is left desolate.

Sometimes, life just sucks, and there’s not a lot of change you can bring.

Don’t shut off the pain.

Don’t hurry up the emotion.

And certainly, don’t act as if it never happened.

Just grieve a while longer.

Just let the tears roll down into a river.

Walk out to the shoreline and breathe a little deeper.

Step out on that mountain and sigh a little louder.

There are no rules that should confine.

There are no restrictions that should bind.

There are no expectations that should be resigned.

Just let the grief roll on until it’s run its course.

Just let the pain push through until its done.

Let your heart grieve a little while longer until it heals.

Let your soul exhale a little wider until it can stand.

And when the healing comes and the strength returns, stand tall and begin to run again.

And it will come.

Someday soon.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For You are my praise.
Jeremiah 17:14

For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’
Jeremiah 30:17

When Your Heart Fails to Grieve

May 24, 2023May 24, 2023 / The WheatandTares / Leave a comment

A grieving heart can be suffocating, almost to the point of death.

But if the heart fails to grieve, it’s like the winter storm that brought in the ice and hail.

The ice forms the piercing icicles, and the hail forms the impaling snowballs.

A grieving heart can walk through the snow, feeling the cold, bracing for the darkness of the forest.

But if the heart fails to grieve, it’s as if the soul is plunged into the abyss among the trees.

The mist rises, the shadows deepens, and the trail is never to be found again.

A grieving heart can be broken, wandering, and flailing to find it’s way.

But if the heart fails to grieve, all the wolves in hiding come out to feast.

All the demons once held at bay come forward to claim their spoils.

Lay down your shield. Lay aside your dagger.

Let the River run through your heart as the tears flow freely.

The pain may be earth shaking, but yet to feel no pain, is to sever the only hope that remains.

Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26

No Apologies Needed

May 23, 2023May 23, 2023 / The WheatandTares / Leave a comment

I don’t know who Meredith Grey is, but her statement is truth.

When someone else breaks you, breaks your heart, or even your mind, you owe them no apologies for how you repair those things.

You owe no apologies for backing away.

You owe no apologies for being silent.

You owe no apologies for taking time to heal.

If your mouth runs away with you, if your attitude is hateful, or your actions become revengeful or damaging in return,

Then, you may need to apologize.

However, if you are simply healing from your wounds,

If you are repairing what has been broken,

If you are removing yourself from further damage and recklessness,

No apologies needed.

No excuses made.

Just carry on with your recovery.

And everyone else can go on wondering.

You’ve got a comeback due.

You’ve got a race to be won.

You’ve got a championship to be achieved.

Don’t waste time with words or explanations.

Keep on keepin’ on and do what must be done.

You’ve got this.

And it’s even better when He does!

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

A Box Full of Boxes

May 15, 2023May 17, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Memories are like boxes sometimes.

You can close the lid and toss them into the bin, believing they’re done.

But as you pick up that larger box to throw them all away,

Those little suckers will come tumbling out like a waterfall.

When you bend over to pick up one, three more flip to the floor.

When you place those back on top, a whole passel come plummeting out,

As if they’ve got to make a nose-dive to the base level.

Almost like dominoes, they come cascading down the path.

Will they relent? Will they end?

They come back with every holiday and trend.

They push their way into every crevice, every crack,

Reaching for a new freedom, seeking shelter from what has been.

Will they be cast down? Will they bend?

I place them in the dark, into the new room

Waiting to surprise a new, non-alerted bloke

Waiting in earnest anticipation to capture another one’s journey bouncing down memory lane.

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create…
Isaiah 65:17-18

Love Like You’ve Never Been Hurt

April 11, 2023April 3, 2023 / The WheatandTares

How does the heart reach when it only wants to recede?

How does the hand soothe when it only wants to clinch?

How does the soul breathe when it only wants to grieve?

The pain can sear the most vibrant minds.

The agony can halt the most passionate tongues.

The brokenness can sever the most intricate of dreams.

How does the path become cleared from the haze of confusion and chaos?

One step in front of the other.

Smiling when a frown would be more convenient.

Looking to the eyes when alluding would be more tolerable.

Gazing with love instead of hatred and realizing if you don’t, you’ll become the very things that have broken you.

And taking it to the feet of Jesus again and again, because without Him, none of this is even possible.

Then, get up anew each day and do it all over again.

So, go ahead.

Live life in your anger, bitterness and pain.

Or love like you’ve never been hurt.

Because His pain was so much greater, and He has still loved us.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.
Luke 23:34

You’re Worth It!

March 22, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 4 Comments

Somebody who is reading this right now needs to read that quote again:

Your worth is not determined by someone’s ability to appreciate it.

Too many of us live in a place of less than because we’re looking for someone’s approval, someone’s appreciation, even when we deny that reality.

We walk around every day stating we don’t need someone else’s admiration; yet, one slight deviation in their behavior, and we’re a wreck.

We puff our chests out like a peacock with the confidence to scale the highest height; yet, one small disagreement, and we melt under the weight of feeling we will never measure up.

So, if this is you today, scroll back up and read that quote one more time:

Your worth is not determined by someone’s ability to appreciate it.

I know. I’m still rereading it, too.

We will grow together. We will stretch together. And we will read this together until we get it.

Words often bounce around in the brain, and although, you’ve read them and comprehend the language, it might take longer to understand it within your heart.

You are enough.

You’re not too much or too little.

You’re not over the top or under the bar level.

You’re not pressing too deep or living too shallow.

You are enough.

And how do I know this?

Because He tells me so.

And that is enough.

Now, to just read that quote one more time.

I might truly get it this time around…

Your worth is not determined by someone’s ability to appreciate it!

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully andwonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 139:13-14

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

Forgiveness is not Reconciliation

December 12, 2022 / The WheatandTares

I choose to forgive because unforgiveness keeps me bound to you.

I choose forgiveness because unforgiveness consumes my thoughts and builds a prison of you.

I choose forgiveness because unforgiveness eats away at my peace, my joy and my quiet knowing and turns my focus to you.

I’m trying to forget what you’ve done; so, why would I choose unforgiveness that would just make me remember?

I’m trying to live and love in freedom; so, why would I choose unforgiveness that would bring your bondage and chains?

I’m watching my children thrive while enjoying my own. So, why would I ever go back to choosing your way of reconciliation.

Forgiveness isn’t reconciliation, and reconciliation isn’t always forgiveness.

But knowing the difference…

Oh, that has made all the difference!

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25

Everyone’s Crazies

November 29, 2022November 28, 2022 / The WheatandTares

The holidays always bring with them interesting family dynamics and semantics.

For some, it’s just simply dealing with the edges of uncomfortable scenarios and conversations, but nothing real out of the way.

No harm. No foul.

For others, it’s complete removal from the dysfunction and toxic environment which accompanies family, celebrations and traditions.

Survival of the Fittest or Crabs in a Barrel.

For most, it can just be learning to navigate between the two extremes.

The Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Wherever you find yourself during your yearly festivities, strive to do better.

Better yet, don’t just strive to survive.

Learn to thrive!

Your thriving isn’t going to look like another’s.

So, do what you can do to succeed.

Their crazies aren’t yours, and yours aren’t theirs.

They don’t have to understand.

Happy Crazy Holidays.

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Psalm 92:12-15

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider thatthe longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they doalso the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know thisbeforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:14-18

Survival Guides Were Meant for Sharing

November 28, 2022November 27, 2022 / The WheatandTares

*I do not own or have rights to this pic.
Google search/Fb repost*

You weren’t made to stay in the valley.

You weren’t made to remain stuck in the mire.

We all feel pain.

We all have heartache.

We all experience tragedy.

The brokenness of life was never meant to be a trophy we wear nor a badge we frame for the wall.

The hardship didn’t come for you to create a fortress around and hail the crisis as king.

We all feel the rain.

We all have tornadic seasons.

We all experience death, sorrow and grief.

You weren’t made to linger in the basin of despair.

You weren’t made to hover in canyon of defeat.

Look up. Cry for help. Claw your way out.

Write your survival guide and pass it along to the next to-be survivor.

Your destiny is waiting, and your little ones are watching.

Thus says the Lord to His anointed,
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
‘I will go before you and make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.
For Jacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.
Isaiah 45:1-4

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10