If you only knew how well I can relate to your heartache. Here is a project that helped me get some closure on a relationship that meant a lot to me this past year -- but one that {I finally had to face} failed to survive even as a friendship or as a big brother-in-Christ. As a wise Christian counselor once said, "If one is willing to be a 10 and one is willing to be a 2, you have a 2.
It's always meant a lot to me to spend some time around Thanksgiving reviewing who has meant the most to me during the past year in my walk with God. Sometimes that means recalling some who have chosen -- sometimes even without explanation -- not to be part of the next year with me.
Since I always end up the year with about a thousand favorite photos, I decided this year to use them to create a very personal memorial calendar, choosing to honor those who have meant so much to me during the joys and sorrows of this year. It's my way of honoring them for another year without obligating them to be in touch with me beyond the end of of this one.
The Holy Spirit also encouraged me to write some special prose and psalms on one or two of the pages. This project took hours and days to complete; and as I revisited both sweet and sad memories through images, I found it helpful to have plenty of tissue handy. It's just necessary to grieve a loss completely. For me, nothing brings back tender feelings more intensely than photos of special places, special people and special moments shared with a loved one. After plenty of tears and prayers, I come out the other side with a lovely gift of honor and forgiveness; and the Holy Spirit quietly mended those holes in my heart all the while. It was my path to the peace so freely poured out by the Prince of this Holy Season.
Perhaps your God-given gift is quilting or drawing or painting or scrapbooking or sculpting. Use it to create something worthy of the value this person has in your heart. Be glad you had the grace and wisdom to respect and value another child of God. If they had not left such deep footprints, your heart would not still feel stomped on . . .
God's best for the rest of your year, Dear Sister.
It's always meant a lot to me to spend some time around Thanksgiving reviewing who has meant the most to me during the past year in my walk with God. Sometimes that means recalling some who have chosen -- sometimes even without explanation -- not to be part of the next year with me.
Since I always end up the year with about a thousand favorite photos, I decided this year to use them to create a very personal memorial calendar, choosing to honor those who have meant so much to me during the joys and sorrows of this year. It's my way of honoring them for another year without obligating them to be in touch with me beyond the end of of this one.
The Holy Spirit also encouraged me to write some special prose and psalms on one or two of the pages. This project took hours and days to complete; and as I revisited both sweet and sad memories through images, I found it helpful to have plenty of tissue handy. It's just necessary to grieve a loss completely. For me, nothing brings back tender feelings more intensely than photos of special places, special people and special moments shared with a loved one. After plenty of tears and prayers, I come out the other side with a lovely gift of honor and forgiveness; and the Holy Spirit quietly mended those holes in my heart all the while. It was my path to the peace so freely poured out by the Prince of this Holy Season.
Perhaps your God-given gift is quilting or drawing or painting or scrapbooking or sculpting. Use it to create something worthy of the value this person has in your heart. Be glad you had the grace and wisdom to respect and value another child of God. If they had not left such deep footprints, your heart would not still feel stomped on . . .
God's best for the rest of your year, Dear Sister.
