IT HAPPENED TO ME ~
As I think about the holidays season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I feel mixed emotions. Emotions of days years gone by and the season I am in now. I find myself sad over missing loved ones and yet wanting to live in this season. My mom used to make holidays so sad. She could never move on from who wasn't at our table anymore. Her husband (my dad), sisters, brothers and other family rest in Heaven. But my brother and I were still here on earth. I just couldn't seem to do anything right for her on a day with a title.
Then it happened, my brother died on Christmas Day with cancer at 37. This made life even worse for my mom and Christmas was much harder than before. I would try my best to make her happy and point out that I was still here, her son in law was here plus two grandchildren. She truly did live in the past and couldn't enjoy life with us. I have shared this story before but felt to share it today. Someone needs to hear me, it's okay to mourn people gone, but don't forget to live again. Live for those around you and God has yet another plan for you. Your family and friends need you to come back to living. I know mourning takes time, but it can take a life time. Don't forget to live in this day with new beginnings.
IT HAPPENED TO ME ~
Wasted too much time thinking about things I could never change
Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
God, there are things happen to each us. Those things change us from the inside out. Sometimes it's just the inside that bothers us and we don't share what life is really like. Some of us struggle with thoughts of the past, money issues, and the stress of this season. Some must spend time with family who they don't really get along with. Help us to see hearts as you do and help us to be an example to others. Help us to lean to you and not our own understanding. AMEN
IT HAPPENED TO ME ~
When I called upon the name of the Lord, my life changed
2 Chronicles 7:14 New International Version (NIV)
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
IT HAPPENED TO ME ~
God healed my heart. Notice that I said healed my heart. It took time to process the death of my dad and years later the death of my brother. I could blame God for taking them or realize it was just their time to enter heaven. The timing of God can be so hard to understand and yet it happens. When it happens, we can call upon the name of Jesus and hold on by faith. Faith that God is greater than the sorrow and big enough to keep us.
Life isn't just about death, but about life. Suddenly life can be so real and we wonder what's next. In the what next moments, just keep trusting the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11 becomes real with a plan, a promise and a future in God. I do care about the readers of my blog. I am a living example of hard stuff, but also an overcomer of things of life. It's okay to press forward and okay it give it all to God daily. Watch him restore you, bless you and keep you in all seasons.
My prayers continue for you, your family and friends.
~ Sparkie