Saying Goodbye

May 11, 2023May 11, 2023 / The WheatandTares / 12 Comments

Saying goodbye is never easy.

It doesn’t matter if it’s to a human or to a pet.

Honestly, some would disagree, but I’d have to say the goodbyes to our pets aren’t half as difficult as saying goodbye to our closest family members.

But truly, I do understand if you’d like to argue that point because they are like family, too.

Yet, I’m not prepared today to argue.

I’m not ready today to put up a fight, even in jest.

My heart is broken as I say goodbye.

Our little friend was a good and gentle creature.

He was the most docile cat I’d ever met in my life.

And our son had practically taught him to be a dog. (Lol)

Every time you’d come home, he’d be there to greet you, and as soon as you stepped on the walkway, he’d plop over to get a belly rub.

He was quite the character, meowing in protest if you left him out too long or maybe didn’t get him in before the rain.

He was like an old man on cold, misty days, not wanting to get up and go beyond his warm bed.

He was like a small child, ready to come to you, yet skittish if your boots were too loud or had rustling papers in hand when you reached to pet him.

I felt almost silly crying over a cat this morning, but goodbyes are never easy, no matter who you are.

And I do believe his brother will miss him, too…

To everything there is a season, time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die…
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

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

Strength Will Come in Time

April 6, 2023April 3, 2023 / The WheatandTares

When you’re feeling weary, ragged and beaten, it’s hard to remember better days.

When pain consumes your heart, it’s difficult to have clear vision beyond the moment.

When you’ve been stabbed, betrayed, accused, and shattered, it’s grueling to look past the shattered dreams.

Yet, just beyond the horizon, the sun is readying it’s radiance.

Just beyond the forest, the brilliance will be peeking through.

When you feel it’s warmth and affection, strength will be revived.

When you see it’s radiance in full, hope will be renewed.

Hold still.

He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:10

Tomorrow Brings Healing

April 5, 2023April 5, 2023 / The WheatandTares

The saying goes, “Time heals all wounds.”

The truth is in the clock that is ticking and the hand that is scratching.

If the hours are sped up, the wound cannot mend itself and breathe.

If the hours are slowed, the agony can be unbearable.

If the fingers pester and pick, the cut cannot strengthen and bind.

If the hand never soothes, the bruise will still groan.

But if the hour glass does its duty, and the palms will appease,

The lesion is quickly dissipated, and the scar will begin to appear.

So, don’t stop the minutes.

Never withhold the care.

These are vital for our healing and our reviving.

Tomorrow will soon be here.

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:8

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4

Where Does Your Heart Heal?

April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Where do you go when you’re hurting?

What do you say? What do you do?

Are you the person who rants and rages over everyone and everything?

Even the child who simply wanted a hug?

Are you the person who sulks and simmers deep in the cave of your own selfish desires?

Pulling away even from those extending love?

What do you do when you’re bleeding from your wound?

Do you let it bleed, spilling over to every street corner, ever merchant, every friend?

Do you bind it up tight, removing the life, restricting it to imminent death?

What do you do when all is lost, all is shattered, all is betrayed?

Your responses in these moments of certain reality will determine your future and your impact.

Reply well, and you’ll become a king.

Return wrong, and even the gutter snipes may not want you.

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!” Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”
2 Samuel 16:5-12

Let Him Have Your Scars

January 24, 2023January 24, 2023 / The WheatandTares

Sharing a bit of my testimony with a group of ladies last night reminded me of some things I know to be true, but often forget in the healing process of life.

Your scars are not meant to be shameful.

Your scars are not meant to be hidden.

Your scars are not meant to be concealed.

If you’ll give those scars to Jesus, He will not only bring His glory from them, He will heal the wounds you have left as well.

Our scars tell a unique story, owned by no one else.

Our scars bring glory to Our Creator because He’s brought healing and strength.

Our scars show someone else how to respond to the pain and how to win.

Our scars show someone else they too can survive.

So, wear your scars humbly and confidently.

Our Lord does.

He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:3-5

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

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