I love the thought of my God loving me enough to protect me.
I love the realization that He loves me enough to defend me.
And I love the image of imagining Him as a lion running to me.
He will do this.
He is a mighty God, an everlasting Savior, an all Powerful Lord,
And yet,
He cares for me. He cares for you.
And He longs for us to be with Him.
And if He needs to run to us,
He will.
And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
Luke 15:20-24
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Not having fear sounds like a great statement, but when it’s your dream, your sickness, or your child, it’s not always that simple.
Control seems easier and less unpredictable.
Having more faith and less fear seems like a great slogan to follow until it’s you who has to walk out on the water, weather the storm in the (seemingly) rickety boat, or step out on the tightrope of success and hope it holds.
Control seems more comfortable and less unreliable.
Yet, I have found in life experiences that no matter how intuitive I think I am, He always sees better.
I have found in all my days of leading, advising, sharing, no matter how capable I feel, He is always stronger and more able.
Control seems right through our carnal eyes,
But His ways are higher than my ways.
His thoughts are beyond my imagination.
And His love is beyond my recognition.
And so, I will trust Him, and I will follow.
I have found in my life that my heart is safer within His mighty hands than it ever was within my human ones.
And I will walk forward with faith.
I will move toward the goal with my focus on Him.
And even if I’m trembling within, I will trust He’s got this because He loves me beyond reason.
For as the heavens arehigher than the earth, So are My wayshigher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Tonight, I wrote five sympathy cards to friends who have lost a loved one recently.
Three of these were within the same family, and they had personally lost 3 family members among them.
And this is just after losing a son/nephew last year and a few more members the year before.
Another couple has lost their brother, cousin, nephew, great grandmother and a distant relative, all within just months of each other.
Yes. Those are each one, a different person, and relationship with said friends.
A third family lost their son, just over thirty years of age. He lived in the Midwest, and they had to take a plane to get to him.
My husband and I received an added message tonight from an old friend who sorely misses his wife who died several years ago. He just wants to see her again.
My family is also in this list of losses, as my own grandmother passed just weeks ago.
If I only looked at all these losses, my heart would be overwhelmed.
If I only looked at the tears, the weight inside would be unbearable.
Grief is hard.
Grief is exhausting.
Grief can be all consuming.
It’s what we do with it that makes the difference.
For me and for you.
A father, close to my age, lost two sons in a boating accident a short 11 years ago, and he shares his grief publicly to encourage others.
A wife shares her story of losing her law enforcement husband to his life in duty, and she gives others support, telling them they can and will survive.
A grandmother describes the last few years of her disabled mother’s life in desire to bring joy to others hearing how her mom always said, “I love you” with a smile to most anyone she met.
Grief is all around us.
If you don’t see it, it’s simply because your eyes are blinded.
If you don’t feel it, you may be oblivious or just plain self consumed.
I’m begging you to open your eyes.
I’m pleading with you to say a prayer.
I’m imploring you to look around and reach beyond self indulgences.
And grasp the hand of those bereaved, lost, or confused.
You never know whose life you might save,
Simply by giving a ray of hope in their dreary world.
Be the joy.
Be the peace.
Be the hope they desperately need.
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
When you come through it, those who saw your wound will be amazed at the lessened scar.
When you survive, those who didn’t begin with you will nod in agreement to your strength.
When you are thriving, you will be rejoicing how far you’ve come and how far you’re ready yet to run.
Let the silence scream.
And heal on.
He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is consideredperceptive.
And bonus: when you’ve walked through the fire, and you’ve slain your dragon, there are those following.
And they need your victory.
So, be like Joan. Be not afraid.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
There are so many hurting and lost souls in this world.
Why would you ever want to become the one who wounds?
There are so many broken shattered lives all around.
Why would you ever want to become the abuser?
There are so many confused and controlled within our stories.
Why would you ever want to become an he one who brings the pain?
When you want to lash out, reach out in love.
When you want to return the cuts, give grace instead.
When you want to bring vengeance for the tears, give forgiveness and walk away.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean reconciliation is yielded.
Healing doesn’t always warrant reentry of the poison.
Be wise, but still forgive.
Be prudent, but still release the accused.
Holding them prisoner only brings the same guilt back to you.
Open that lock and barricade and let freedom reign.
Walk away to become someone else’s hero.
Move forward to create someone else’s ability to live.
Run toward purpose to become someone else’s hero and help slay someone else’s giant.
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
The journey of grief seems so long, so treacherous, and so methodical.
If you dwell too much on the journey, you’ll wander along the creek side, lost.
Never stopping for a drink.
The water continues to flow along the path, and it is for your refreshing, your renewal.
For the journey is hard, and it’s not meant for eternity.
Stay alert and remain vigilant in the middle of the walk.
Stay revived and maintain the elements to survive.
Grief is like a thief if you’ll allow him to be.
He will steal days, years, even hours and minutes
He will steal joy and peace, prosperity and comfort.
Don’t let him stay too long, or he will even steal your sanity.
You can’t shut him out; for then, he will only come back with gained force.
But don’t open the gate wide to welcome; for he will consume all territory that is lonely.
Fortify the good within and remain watchful.
Maintain the gates with prayer, steadfastness and faith.
Let him walk through, but swing open the back door with a celebration and fanfare.
For he will always peek through the windows and the trellises, but he cannot set up to abide.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weepingmayendure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore, I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 42
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
He looks all nice and cozy, chewing his cud, minding his own business.
But don’t get too close, or you’ll feel his horns.
That bull goes about his day, grazing, watching, or just lazing around.
But you get into his sight, and he’s liable to gorge you.
That bull has a family, or maybe he’s a loner.
Leave him alone.
Don’t prod him.
Don’t prick him.
And certainly, don’t pet him.
He’s there to do his thing, and he will come and go as he pleases.
Just keep your eyes on him.
Never let him out of your peripheral view.
For that is when he will sneak up for the kill.
And you’ll be fortunate to survive the pounding.
Let him roam.
And keep your vision clear.
Learn from every encounter but try not to remain.
He will move on down the pasture when it’s time; although, he will always be there.
Just let him roam further and further.
But never let him out of your sight.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 3-7
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thornin the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
It seems funny to give a title to grief as if I am numbering sheets of paper, but yet, how else do you list it?
Grief is evasive and yet, it is so invasive.
Grief is like a cool, summer rain, and yet, it’s like a torrential tsunami that barrels in with no warning.
Grief is both bittersweet and just plain sour.
And when grief comes by new forms and methods consistently over the years, it gets hard to dissect the good in the pain.
Just hold on.
And pray.
A lot.
We were not made for this world.
We were not made for this grief, and that’s why it’s so foreign. That’s why it’s so hard.
We were made for an eternal world, and we will be there before we know it.
He’s coming back soon.
Just hold on and be ready.
And He said to me, “My graceissufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weepingmayendure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and escape. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
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