Communal Grief - How Do We Heal?

Welcome and Good Morning.

I want to share an article by Joanne Fink about Saturday's shooting. It is a great article about healing when senseless acts of violence hits a community and our world.

The link to her blog:
https://zenspirations.com/blog/communal-grief-how-do-we-heal/#comment-14807

by Joanne Fink

Be the Light.
Blessings,
Deborah

Grief & 100 Days of Bible Promises

Welcome and blessings!

I've been working in my devotional, "100 Days of Bible Promises," almost daily and it has really been helping me with my grieving. The upbeat daily devotionals and scripture reminders have helped me remember that God is near in every aspect of my life, especially when I'm in the valleys of darkness. Reading and finally feeling like being creative has given my spirit a huge lift. I'm beginning to see a light at the end of tunnel. That is not to say I don't still miss the people I love and have lost. It just doesn't feel so raw now. I can make it through a day without crying when I think of them. Not everyday yet, but I'm getting there. It all takes time and everyone has their own way to deal and their own pace to get there. Rushing and denying only makes it last longer. The people I lost were all worth grieving over. They were kind, loving people who should be missed and grieved for. There will be an empty spot inside me for the rest of my life, but I know I will see them again and that helps a little. Not a lot right now, to be honest, since I don't know when that will be. But it is something to look forward to.

Here are a few of my pages.

Click on the photos for a larger image.

Gratitude
1. The Creator
2. Ways to create
3. The Holy Spirit

Isaiah 40:31
Those who trust in the Lord
will find new strength.
They will soar high
on wings like eagles.
They will run and
not grow weary.
The will walk
and not faint.

Blessings,
Deborah

More Thoughts on Grief

Welcome and blessings.

I've been absent lately.
And absent minded.
I'm having trouble focusing for long.
I'm still crying at any given moment.
Hiding in my room so no one knows.
Trying to smile and be social when all I really want to be is alone.

I have a jury summons this week. I'm one of the few people who actually don't mind serving. I find it all very interesting, but I don't think I would be very good at it right now. The focusing and tracking thing could be a problem. I may ask to be excused. I feel bad about that, but hey, my mom died. And two other people I loved and my beloved cat. Can I please be excused? Give me 6 months and I'll gladly come back and serve. Of course, what would really be nice is if I call the night before and it has been cancelled. That would be the best thing to happen. I'm praying for that outcome.

We've had company this past week It has been wonderful to have a full house to cook for. People to talk to and share stories with. It has been a nice diversion. That doesn't mean I haven't gone off and cried a couple of times, but they have been so understanding. They are leaving tomorrow and I will miss them. A lot. Safe travels home, dear family.

This week I promised myself to get back on track in the losing weight department. More on that subject later.

I would like to say thank you on this Memorial Day to all who have served, are now serving and especially to those soldiers who laid down their lives for my freedom. There really are no words to express my deep gratitude to all of you. God Bless you all.

(Photo found on Google images. No credit given to photographer.)

Gratitude
1. Soldiers and Veterans
2. Family and friends
3. Holidays

Blessings,
Deborah

P.S. My Cat Died, Too.

Welcome and Blessings.

Somehow, when I was talking about all the deaths I have experience lately I forgot to say my cat died the same week that my mother did.
How could have I forgotten to mention that?!!
My dear, sweet Maverick.

Such a silly cat. Afraid of his own shadow. Friends had rare sightings of him, if any at all. I had to show most people his picture to prove we really did have a cat. Sometimes he would even act afraid of us, especially if we had a hat or a hood on. Even if we spoke to him to prove it was us, he would go into his low rider mode and run under the bed. So silly.

I miss him dearly.

I thought I wouldn't want any more animals when he was gone. Five years ago we had 3 dogs and 3 cats and now we have none. Too many losses in such a short time. That's what happens when you get them all close to the same age. We lost our last two dogs last year. One in January and one in November. Tears another little hole in my soul when each one passes. Anyway, after the last dog passed I thought, "NO MORE ANIMALS!" I can't take this loss. But now that Maverick is gone I'm not so sure. On the morning my husband told me he had passed in the night my first thought, after sobbing over the loss, was, "Oh my! I don't have a cat anymore." I'm not so sure I can live without a cat in my life. I'm not rushing out to get one. I want time to grieve Mav's loss, but I'm pretty sure there will be another cat someday. 

My life just isn't complete without that purring in my ear. 

Gratitude

1. Tootsie (dog)

2. Leena (dog)

3. Molly (dog)

4 . Lili (cat)

5. Sassy (cat)

6. Maverick (cat)

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in every situation,

by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

Blessings,

Deborah

Grief is Hard

Welcome. I hope you are having a blessed day.

"Grief is hard," is an understatement.
It is effecting me in many ways, especially in the writing department.
I told myself today that I need to stop staring at blank notebooks and blank screens and write something.
Anything.
So, here I am.
My mother died.
My favorite high school teacher died.
A young man, who was a preschool student of mine 13 or so years ago died a year ago. I found that out, too when I went home for my mother's funeral.
Now back home, I found out last week that my best friend's wife has cancer.
Write?
Really?
You want me to write poetry or a short story?
Now?
No.
I can't.
It's not in here inside this numb brain so filled with grief I can hardly breathe.
I love to read.
Can't focus on the page.
Craft?
Pfft.
Cry?
I can do that.
Stare off into space?
I can do that.
Go through the daily motion of getting dressed, fixing meals, talking when spoken to?
Yes, I can do those things.
Pray?
Yes, if I ask God for help with my prayers.
Write?
Well, I guess I just did.
Just don't ask me to be creative about it.

A picture I took while home.

Gratitude
1. Oceans
2. Flowers
3. Birds

Hebrews 13:5
I will in no way leave you,
neither will I in any way
forsake you.



Blessings,
Deborah