A month ago I sent out an invitation for an outreach called HOW that Jan Griesenbeck and I were beginning. It is a gathering for widows that Jan and I are convinced that God has put on our hearts and called us to tap into. Your prayerful responses to the email were so appreciated but still we really had no idea what to expect at our first meeting. We were blown away when we had 29 people in attendance. All ages, out of towners, some who had just recently lost their beloved husbands and some who had survived the loss for many years. This was a safe place where ladies understood and could
relate to similar experiences of feelings and survival. All this to say, Jan and I are continuing this each month, every fourth Monday, with the exception of this month, Memorial Day, so we postponed this months meeting until this coming Wednesday May 29, 6-8, my house.
The first meeting was mainly an explanation of how Jan and I both got together on this idea, and why we are confident that God has placed this call on our hearts. When Jan spoke of her experience of losing her husband and the “how’s" she has of healing and mending a broken heart, her explanation was heartfelt, real, positive, engaging, tender and filled with God’s grace and the reality of his power.
My devotional to all of you today is from the very words of Jan, my precious friend. This was her introduction to the HOW group a month ago and still her thoughts linger and encourage me no matter where my daily walk begins. She is a bright light, positive, can always find a half full glass, and she has a heart for others that never runs dry. I hope too that even in your darkest moment that these words may too shine upon your path a light of hope.
HOW:
a. Cathy is a woman of words as is evident by her
4 best selling books and her daily devotionals.
And she is a woman of The Word! So when she
Said she wanted to share what God had put on her
Heart, I was already excited. As she shared how
God had planted a seed within her heart to reach out
To women whose “husbands had been call heavenward”
And had given her the name HOW (hearts of women)
For this special group~~~~~I immediately had a huge
Smile on my heart. Because my daughter, Holly, and I
Have had several conversations with her saying,
“Mom, you have to take this experience and pay it
forward.” And, the conversation always ended the
same way, with me saying I really want to I’m
just not sure HOW!
b. After talking with Cathy, I thought HOW can this even
be on her radar screen since she isn’t even on this path.
And I heard Him say, “I’m HOW!!!”
c. The question I am asked over and over is, “HOW can
you do this? And the answer is crystal clear: HOW
can I not honor the gift and the blessing and the
absolute joy of being married to that guy~~~~
Bob Griesenbeck for 40 years.
How can I not take the footprints he left on my heart
And on the hearts of my children and grandchildren
And “pay it forward.
d. How can I not get up every day and say this is the daythe Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it so that I can lead by example so my children know
that I am ok. Because if I’m not ok then they can’t
be ok. even though I say it every day, there are
many days I tell God , ok I said it but I don’t’ feel it.
And He says, That’s ok your relationship with me isn’t based on your feelings or your emotions~~~~but I’ve got your back anyway.
e. I can do this through the inspiration and encouragement of others who have traveled this
road before me.
f. I am encouraged and inspired by the man who
wrote this to his family and friends after his only
child died:
“We wish for you what Jimi would have wished
for you, a life of wondrous and glorious adventure,
lived passionately every day , filled to overflowing
with love for and from your family and friends,
replete with laughter and hugs with an ever
present unyielding commitment to those in need.”
A year to the day after losing his son, this man
Was climbing Mt. Kilamanjaro.
This amazing guy is my brother.
g. I am encouraged and inspired by the widow who
at 80 joined a gym and at 82 started taking dance
lessons and competed in several competions.
At 86, when she could no longer participate in
These activites she began taking piano lessons .
That wonderful lady was my mom.
h. I am encouraged and inspired by the amazing
example of grace and dignity by which one of
my dearest and best friends has chosen to live
her life after losing her husband and how she
had “paid it forward” by mentoring others.
That amazing friend is Stephanie Smith.
i. I am inspired and encouraged by Cathy’s daily
devotionals in which she takes the most
ordinary things in life and sees extraordinary
blessings from God.
j. I inspired by each of you; for the courage and
boldness it took for you to choose to come
tonight.
k. My main source of inspiration and encouragement
comes from His Word that tells me, Jan, if you will
quite your mind and still your heart, you will hear
that still , small voice behind you saying, “This is
the way, walk in it. I will direct your thoughts and
your footsteps, for with me all things are possible.”
For some of us, our loss has drawn us closer to God,
While for others, we are shaking our fists at Him
And asking HOW could this have happened!
Even though we’re all on
the same path, we are each at different points
along the way. There is no right or
wrong way to deal with our loss. There is only
our own unique way by which we individually
process our journey .
As we come alongside each other, it is
MY hope and my prayer for each one of us is to not just
live life, but to enjoy our lives. I know that
collectively as we share our hearts and our
experiences, the HOW will be revealed .
Tomorrow is a Mystery
Today is a Gift, that's why
its called a Present!
May you be blessed this day with the motivation to seize the joy of this day no matter what the circumstances are that are about you, for God is real and active and on your side. If only we will trust him with the reigns of our lives and give him the opportunity to partner in our daily decisions, attitudes, and clarity of what really matters, it is then that we will find the peace that is found in the present of this day!
Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!
1 comment:
So truee....
Post a Comment