When I think of what we can be thankful for it is easy to make a list and then be done with it.
Not so easy my friend, we must really take in and consider all the many blessings we have surrounding us.
First of all, we live in houses that have heat. We can go to a thermostat and turn it up or down.
Some people do not have that choice.
Second of all, we have fresh running water to make coffee or brush our teeth or shower.
Some people do not have that choice.
We have facilities within our home that keep us clean, such as bathrooms, dishwashers or laundry.
Some people do not have that choice.
We woke up in a warm comfortable bed with clean sheets and warm blankets and soft pillows.
Some people do not have that choice.
We made our breakfast from food that was kept safe in a refrigerator that is cold with an oven that is warm.
Some people do not have that choice.
We walk on clean soft carpeting, as we look out a window that is open to the outside; yet it keeps us safe inside.
Some people do not have that choice.
At any point in time we can get into our car and drive down the road to a grocery store for fresh goods.
Some people do not have that choice.
Are you beginning to get the picture of how blessed we are? How fortunate we are? How thankful we should be?
Not to put a should upon you or me, but so often we complain and get frumpy for no real reason.
We have nothing to complain about when we think of others in different situations that is not our reality.
Inconveniences for us would be a major blessing to some of them.
Not to use the ‘them and us’ concept but you understand what I mean?
When I think of what we can be thankful for it is easy to make a list and be done with it.
May I challenge us all to think more clearly and with more intentions?
Heading into the Thanksgiving season,
I realized the other day that the holiday is almost upon us.
Seems like the year has just raced past us.
We had such an interesting year with a major move, a death and losses on many levels.
I am still recovering from the change.
It was a good change.
We needed to move from a two story home to a single level; only it happened so fast I am still trying to navigate through boxes.
When you pray for a new direction be very aware HE might show you in a mighty way.
Our house sold quickly and we had a very short window of time to find a new one.
Our little home is cozy, and the yard isn’t much; but it’s just enough for us.
I thought I needed all the ‘other’ things we had, but in reality when we moved many of the them were not needed.
We rehomed at least 10 pieces of furniture, boxes of ‘goodwill’ items and an assortment of clothes for a church drop off.
I love to repurpose things, or give things away.
It is fun to bless others with something; Or as a last resort I will sell something.
As we are settling into this new place we call home.
I am feeling most thankful that all of our grand children live close to us.
Our grown children did not move far away so we can see them very easily within an hours drive.
We have a good relationship with both of them and they both call us often.
We can go to events at the schools or extra activities the kids are a part of and it is nice to be a face in the audience.
I feel thankful that our health is good.
I feel thankful that our finances are not in bad shape.
I feel thankful that we have a wonderful church home and a good small group of people we associate with.
Heading into Thanksgiving I challenge you to write down the things in your life you can be thankful for.
I am remembering at the six month mark, my sister has been gone now for half a year.
Still so hard for me to imagine not seeing her, hearing her voice, talking to her.
Even when she was gone in her earlier years sometimes years at a time, she always returned.
Always at Christmas. The holidays brought her home.
Not this time.
Loss happens to all of us on so many levels depending on who is the one we lost.
Sometimes a friend, sometimes a relative, sometimes even a much loved animal friend.
It is always hard to say that final goodbye.
Even Jesus had loss in his life.
When Lazarus died he cried. Two words, Jesus wept.
He wept even though he knew HE had the power to bring him back, he wept because of his love for him.
At times the grief comes close to me and I let it sit and then I wait for it to leave.
It is good to remember.
It is good to remind ourselves; that we were three, and now we are two.
I don’t want to ever forget who she was, oh sure at times she was a pain and her behavior was far from perfect.
But she was a sister. And I did stand up for her over and over many times when we were growing up.
As she got older she needed someone to speak for best interest. I did that too.
I couldn’t always protect her, and she didn’t always want me too.
It was ok to release some responsibility for someone else.
I was the youngest and I am remembering at the six month mark, how much she is missed. I was reminded that it is only 5 months, December will be the 6 month mark.
That is where the power is
I read a quote not long ago and there was no author to give credit to, so I want to share it here.
“When you can’t control what’s happening around you, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what’s happening.
That is where the power is.”
Oh I really like this.
When our children were little and when they were acting out over some incident that created a stir for them.
I would often say, “are you reacting or responding?” The decision would then direct my choice as to how to deal with them.
Same idea if I was disciplining them. If they are over reacting then it’s a bigger problem. If they chose to respond in a good way.
We both won.
The power is controlling our response.
Often we may be angry, or frustrated or worried or the many other things we can feel but how we show that is very important.
I have seen people come out of horrendous situations and remain calm and with the attitude, “I made it”.
I have also seen some who could come out of the same situation really angry and bitter.
One friend I remember who was coming through a terrible divorce remained very angry for many years.
How much time was wasted by allowing that bitter attitude to steal joy, peace and calm.
Some things will happen in our lives which we have no control over.
We may lose our job, our home, our health, our loved one.
The biggest choice we will have in those moments, is how we respond.
How will we make it through. How we will get to the other side.
If others are watching; what story are they reading when they see us push through the ‘issues’?
That is where the power is, the way we respond.
When I think of this song, Amazing Grace, I remain in complete AWE for the concept of Grace.
Unmerited favor, not deserving. Not even qualified to receive it, YET we do, because of God.
I don’t like the term, ‘that saved a wretch’ like me, but really without the love of God surrounding us, we are broken people.
The dictionary says, [a deplorably unfortunate or unhappy person. a person of despicable or base character.]
I really think we are made new and whole when we truly feel and experience Amazing Grace.
Deep down in the depth’s of our spirit.
His love surrounds us and reaches us in the deepest painful parts of ourselves.
‘I once was lost, but now I’m found, I was blind but now I see.’
It becomes more clear to us and we become more aware of the deep, deep love HE has for us.
I pray you take a few minutes and listen to this beautiful song.
It is powerful, healing and it ministers to me whenever I hear it, he sings with an ability like no other.
I pray you are able to sit back and really listen to him.
He is a gifted singer …. look him up if you want more of his music
Philippians 1:3-11
[I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.
8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.]
Have you ever met an encourager? Someone who constantly lifts others up and wishes the best for them no matter what is taking place in their own lives?
Paul was like this, he was writing to a group of people who he cared about and wanted the best for them.
Do you have someone in your life that speaks truth and hope to you?
I have a best friend who does that for me. She believes in my ‘journey’ and process.
I love the way Paul was confident of their growth, their purpose, and their ability to discern and love others.
He brings affirming words to them and leaves them with a sense of value.
We all need cheerleaders who stand or walk beside us cheering us on.
The world is hard enough, no one needs negativity from others.
I am thankful, and willing to lead and encourage those who are around me.
I will continue to challenge myself to push forward and cheer others on to a better place within themselves.
We all need a “you can do it, I know you can” person in our lives.
Even when our own circumstances are not peaceful or calm.
Let us stir one another and offer prayer for others.
Yesterday was October 8th, four months from the day my sister died.
It is a strange and empty place in my heart, to have her missing.
My husband lost his brother many years ago, he was 36 years old and a heart patient.
That was a sudden death and sudden heart ache for us all.
It was a deep loss and I remember the tears and the sorrow.
My sister has been ill with liver issues and serious drinking problems.
I am not sure what she actually died from, I have heard it was lung cancer and liver failure.
She truly was a walking miracle as her body had been through so much pain and abuse.
Four months ago she left this place for a better peaceful place.
I believe in my heart she believed in the Lord.
I didn’t get to pray with her, and I wasn’t able to see her.
But I did pray in my spirit for her, and I know she was a good kind person most of the time.
It has been a sense of mine that because of our move in April and then her death in June, my desire for writing has been put on hold.
Not to stop writing, just a pause.
A quiet place of reflecting and renewing; slowing the thoughts and the ideas down.
You know; even Jesus went away for a quiet place to restore his spirit.
It is a time for grief.
It is honoring to give yourself those moments to remember, to think and to pray.
We don’t always have to be doing something. We can pause. Renew. Refresh, and restore.
Not long after her death we found a long lost cousin on an ancestry site.
It is an amazing gift to me and my other sister as she fits right in and feels like a sister.
She will always be in our lives and it is such an interesting timing for her to be here with us, right after our sister died.
The Lord takes away, and the Lord gives back.
Her husband is a blessing too, they are wonderful, delightful people and sometimes; I do feel that God restores our broken hearts by bringing others to us.
I feel blessed to know them and have them a part of our family now.
Yesterday was the four month reminder of the loss of my sister.
I will say goodbye and then hello; and move through this new phase of our lives with ‘a new’ kindred spirit sister and brother.
I am in our trailer at the beach on a rainy day.
Typical Oregon weather, one day sunny and clear, the next one stormy and cold.
It is not a downpour but a constant heavy mist with a chill in the air.
Actually quite lovely if you appreciate the coast here.
It is quiet, I am alone and in my space.
I am enjoying the time to relax, read a magazine, or book and just not do anything.
We all need to take the time to do this kind of rest.
I miss my kitties and often wonder what they are doing while we are gone, Molly was very funny when we were getting ready to leave, I had opened our bedroom door.
Usually they don’t belong in there but when we are gone; I cover the quilts up with a sheet and then let them sleep on top of the bed, with the hopes that they won’t beat on our bedroom door while we are gone.
As we were getting ready to leave I called her, and she was no where. I called more and no sign of her, my husband called and nothing. We hoped she had not gotten outside as she is only inside.
No sign of Molly. Finally I went into our room and felt around the top of our bed and she was under the sheet and curled among the pillows. NOT where she is supposed to be.
As we got in the car I laughed at her trying desperately to hide.
She could hear us calling but she ignored it all. Hoping to be able to stay in her warm comfy spot.
Isn’t that a life lesson for us? Often the Lord will call us, nudge us, look for us and we hide.
Our comfort level doesn’t want to change.
Only until I physically found her and moved her did she leave that warm spot.
The Lord does that to us too often forcing us in a new direction whether we want one or not.
We drove away and I was still chuckling at that sneaky cat and my husband said, “you know that probably wasn’t the first time she has slept in that cozy spot.”
So true. She was so good at burrowing in without a mess I had no idea that’s where she was hiding.
I lost my dad six years ago.
Facebook reminded me on September 20th, he passed away.
It was a different kind of loss, I guess I can say the second time he left.
The first time was when I was four. I was just a little one and he left for many years and I didn’t see him until my thirties.
It was a strange thing to grow up without a dad and without a little girl ‘dad’ voice in her head.
I don’t remember ever having him say words of affirmation to me.
I could never say, “what would dad say?” because I didn’t know.
Having him missing left a hole that I couldn’t ever heal. Until I met the Lord.
We have a song that we sing in church called, “You’re a good, good father” and YES I sing it with a personal heart tug.
It validates who I am, as a daughter and as a daughter of the Lord.
It heals those wounded parts of me that were left unnoticed and unhealed for years.
Therapy helped. Having a male therapist helped. But that is not the same as your ‘daddy’.
When he came back into our lives we were kind of close. Not the warm fuzzy close, but he would come visit me.
I enjoyed his company. I thought we were a lot alike even though I was not raised by him, we were related.
Losing my dad, six years ago closed a chapter of my life, then losing my mom a year later closed another chapter.
Losing my sister recently closed another one.
The book full of life experiences and trauma is closed too. The Lord healed me.
In many ways I believe my dad was a good father, even though I missed so many years without him.
He was who he was and I accepted him just as he was, later on he would remarry our mom and when they both died they were together in heart.
It’s a strange story of healing and restoration. Of forgiveness and of love.
Isn’t it just like our ‘God of love’ to restore what was broken and heal what was lost?
When I lost my sister it was really hard to grasp emotionally.
In fact I am still working through the reality that she is gone, fully and truly gone.
That in this life I will not ever see her again. She has been gone almost three months.
Loss is not an easy topic.
In our society if a family member dies and someone works at a job, they are entitled up to three bereavement days. Some company’s may allow more; but they don’t have to allow any.
I may not be saying all this right but my point is we don’t allow time for a broken heart.
When a loved one passes away there is really no time for grieving because life goes on.
It doesn’t stop for tears or sadness; it presses forward and expects you, ‘the one who is grieving’ to press forward too.
My sister had been sick for many years with an addictive personality; she learned survival early on and did what she could to manage her ‘self’ which often meant medicating.
When her husband died she was moved into a care setting which actually was a safe place for her and a place of protection.
She lived relatively healthy until about a year ago, then she fell and the care home could no longer give her what she needed.
She became even more ill and more unable to breathe and eat; and I imagine it was a bit scary for her. None of us want to face our own death even in the best environments.
None of us knows what it will be like for us at the end of our life when the end comes.
We can pray and hope and know that our heart condition is right.
We can allow others to care for us when we can’t do it ourselves.
It is a releasing and letting go.
When I lost my sister I honestly can say, I lost a piece of myself too.
Our history is gone. Only in memory now. I look at pictures and there is a missing person.
I will allow myself to follow the feelings and not stuff the sadness.
Loss is not easy and we make it harder when we don’t talk about it.
One Word 2018 Simplify/2019 Simplify/2020 Rest, 2021/Comfort
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Philipians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. ==================== Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." Courage is not the absence of fear but it's taking action in the midst of it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A diamond is a chunk of coal that made good under pressure.
It's your heart, not the dictionary that gives meaning to your words. Matthew 12:34 (msg) version.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below you will find a few of my favorite websites or blogs. They have given me encouragement and challenged me on this journey.
Ann Voskamp's blog A holy Experience This image of a bleeding heart represents a journey of healing from brokenness to wholeness. Some of my favorite books: One thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Married over 46 years and entered into my 65th year of life.
I am a mother of two and grandmother of six and mom to two very spoiled kitties. I love to worship and encourage and of course write whenever I can find a topic or subject to share about.
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Thank you for visiting my blog.
I hope you find it encouraging and that it gives you
'Something to think about'. The vision for this is to challenge the reader into a new and different way of thinking. I appreciate and always value your comments. Having others walk alongside and join in the sharing is part of the process.
Thank you for joining me... on this journey. As we get encouraged ~ Lord help us to encourage others. "And the day came when the risk to remain a tight bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin my blog button The crosses are found on a beach at Winema Christian Camp on the Oregon coast.. a place to relax and find God in the process. My favorite place ....to rest and restore my spirit.
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I was reminded that it is only 5 months, December will be the 6 month mark.
