Healing

Healing

 

“Just give it time,” people say. That is misleading.

Time alone will not heal your grief.

“I knew about the process and steps of grief recovery.

 But still, it felt like the weight of grief on my shoulders

 would never be lifted,”

. “It’s okay to feel that way. But know it won’t last forever.

"Your feelings at this point aren’t the crucial issue.

What is important is that you choose to stay close to the Lord

and not turn away from Him.

 If you walk with God as He walks with you,

one day you will wake up and say, ‘It’s a little bit better.’”

God is the source of all healing.

 Make the decision to remain close to Him

despite your emotional struggles.

“I am the LORD, who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).

God, You are my healer, and I choose to walk with You. Amen.

Doubting Your Faith

Doubting Your Faith "I was mad. I felt like the Lord was not there. I had prayed to hear from Him, and I didn't. It seemed as if He wasn't answering my prayers," says Phyllis, who lost her sister. "Emotionally and spiritually I expected something different. I knew that He was there, but I wasn't feeling emotionally like I wanted to feel." You are not alone, and you are not wrong to have doubts. David said in the Psalms,  "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?" . Job had similar feelings: "Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again" (7:7). Job thought he would "never see happiness again," but when we read the end of the book of Job, we find that God had something very good in store for him. God is faithful to do what He says He will do regardless of how you feel or what you believe. Lord, I'm going to walk this journey by faith because what I feel and see sure isn't helping. Amen.

Understanding Grief

Understanding Your Grief

Grief is not an enemy or a sign of weakness. 

It is a sign of being human. 

Grief is the cost of loving someone.
Since grief comes to everyone, why do some people 

seem to work through it better than others?

"Some people think that going 

through the losses or crises of life 

are the exceptional times," 

says Dr. H. Norman Wright.

"I see it differently. I see the times 

of calm as the exceptions. 

Life really is going through one loss after another, 

one crisis after another.

"Instead of avoiding talking about these times, 

let's do our homework.

When you know what to expect, 

you're not thrown by them as much,

and you're going to be better able to recover."

"But those who hope in the Lord 

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

 they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

Lord God, teach me to embrace my grief and not fight it,

so that I may experience the true healing that comes from You. Amen.

Grieving during the holidays

Grieving during the holidays

Memorial to My Mom

I Believe

 I Believe….

Every now and then, 

soft as breath upon my skin,

I feel you come back again,

And it’s like you haven’t been 

gone a moment from my side ~

Like the tears were never cried,

Like the hands of time 

are holding you and me,

And with all my heart I’m sure 

we’re closer than we ever were

I don’t have to hear or see you ~ 

I’ve got all the proof I need ~

There are more than angels 

watching over me

I believe, oh I believe

Now when you die your life goes on ~

It doesn’t end here when you’re gone

It never ends, and if I’m right

Our love can even reach across eternity

I believe, oh I believe

Forever you’re a part of me

Forever in the heart of me

I would hold you even longer if I can

Oh the people who don’t see the most

Say that I believe in ghosts

If that makes me crazy, then I am
‘

Cause I believe

Oh yes, I believe

There are more than angels 

watching over me

I believe, oh I believe

Every now and then soft as breath 

upon my skin

I feel you come back again ~

And I believe.

My First Mother's Day

My First Mother's Day

On the first Mother's Day following the loss of my daughter, Annie, I went to a retreat at the convent.  This was a very hard time for me.  I had lost my mother when I was 18, but this year I was a mother but had no baby with me.

At Mass that morning Father talked about the bond between a mother and her child - how it is similar to the bond between Creator and creation. 

 I cried through the entire Mass.

After Mass, one of my dearest friends, Sister Angelina, brought me to the front parlor, she reached behind the door and pulled out 2 long stem roses, one with a pink bow and one with a red bow.  She said, "I think ALL mother's deserve roses on Mother's Day!"

She explained that the pink bow represented Annie and the red, my mother.  What a beautiful gift!  The roses were beautiful but the acknowledgement is the gift that I will treasure forever. 

A wonderful gift from a woman whom will never have biological children of her own, who knew the love and pain in my heart.  Some mothers are biological, others are Spiritual Mothers.  I have truly been blessed by great friends!