As a reminder we have a light dinner, fellowship and this week, as we did last month, there will be two testimonials from ladies who have joined our group and the stories of love, strength, grief, hope, support and HOW they have navigated through these painful times are the very convicting and heart gripping.
I know there are many who appreciate the encouragement from these gatherings, and I also know there are friends who are out there hurting who need encouragement themselves and are better at staying anonymous for now. So in an effort to push this ministry forward a bit more, I am sending you notes from Jan's last talk. Oh she is so loving in her approach and God continues to bless her with thoughts that are so relative to not only a widows' group but for anyone gogin through soem tough times and big hurdles. So here you go:
September 23, 2013
Last week, Dateline highlighted a story of a family whose
twelve year old son had been abducted. The parents
were thirty minutes away attending a party when they
received the call. The interviewer asked the father
what was going through his mind on the car ride home to which he responded: “The ride home was just a prelude to what was to come. We could never have imagined what was
ahead of us.”
And so it is for each of us; there is a prelude to each of our stories. We have been on the other end of that phone call or sitting in the doctor’s office when the diagnosis was delivered or been present when the accident occurred that would forever change life as we knew it just moments before, nor
could we have imagined what was ahead of us.
Julie Yarbrough wrote: “Sharing your story within the sanctity of a group of people who know the experience of death and grief may assure you that you are not alone in your loss. In a safe community of mutual trust, you find support and encouragement as you seek a life of renewed hope and joy after your personal experience of grief. When others who understand extend the lifeline of trust, you are certain that you are heard and understood.”
Our personal experience is as unique as each one of us. There is no specific road map to follow as we move from one mile marker to another. We are the ones who draw our own map and fill in our own directions.
Through sharing our journeys, we realize that it’s ok that your map and your directions don’t look anything like someone else’s. What we realize when we share our hearts, is that we are hearing the “voice of emotional and spiritual authenticity.”
Cathy and I could never have imagined that thirty women would walk through that door six months ago in response to an email inviting anyone who had lost their loved one to come alongside others who were traveling the same path.By sharing our stories not only are we offering encouragement, support. comfort and love to each other, We realize just how unique each individual journey is.
Upon this break we heard the journeys thus far of Lea and Laura, two precious women and the loves that they so miss, a tapestry of their life that was, and now is, and "How" this grief has changed them, challenged them and how God has held them in his arms each step of the way.
“Though the music of life may have stopped for a while,
the song of eternal love plays forever in our hearts.”
Brie shared with us a beautiful picture and song of her and Heinz renewing their vows that is a glorious testimony to the fact that “though the music of life may have stopped for a while, the song of eternal love plays forever in our hearts.”
By Reaching out in love and compassion, we have an opportunity to “pay it forward.” We have an opportunity to show what God is really like. “The Lord is good to all, and His compassion is over all that
He has made.”
Psalm 145:9
Thank you Father, that from my “Prelude” you have shown me
Your everlasting love and compassion. As I move beyond my
Broken heart, may I serve you with compassion.
And that was her lesson!
We all will deal with tragedy or grief or health issues and a myriad of challenges, but what I have witnessed in this precious group of women is that when we come together and fight the urge to stay isolated when darkness falls over us, that is where we do see God's hand in conversation, in support, in hope and in love for one another. This is a widow's group, and any of you who are so inclined, please join us. We are not scary I promise, and once you come, I truly think you will find that you will walk out of the door feeling just a little stronger, and comforted that when you walked in. It helps to be among friends old and new who "get it". Though the journeys will all be personal ones there is much that those who grieve have in common and when it is shared it has a tendency to empower each another.
Jan has said time and time again this is what I have to work with now, I can't go back, I can only cherish memories, go forward and pay it forward...and share with others the love, comfort and support I have found in faithfully standing on God's promises and trusting him with my each new day. Isn't that what God wants us all to do? In times of Joy as well as times of sorrow?
Dear Lord, "HOW" do I thank for being so consistent, so loving, so comforting and so present? I know the answer lies in my awareness of your presence, my dependence on your guidance, and my trust that you will provide for me in all the ways that I need not necessarily the ways I want. You will be faithful to the end of all my days to love me, guide me, strengthen me, and remind me to think of others before myself and encourage me to strive to not only seek your word but adhere to it.Thank you Lord. Amen
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