Good morning.
To those of you who follow my blog so patiently – a huge thank you for all the encouragement and love you have blessed me with. It has been three years since I hit that publish button for the first time. Never when I boldly, humbly, asked God to use it to His glory to bless every heart who read it – posted that first writing – would I have imagined how much I would learn from this process. I thank you all for walking that journey with me.
Today I write you inviting you to participate with me on a challenge I have accepted – very timidly – yet not doubting for a second I would grow once again from heading into this next level of my blogging adventure.
I have joined a writers group challenging me to write and post on my blog everyday for 31 days of October. You will receive a post from me each day. Please join me in praying that I will use this as a learning discipline not just to improve my writing, but to engage more actively with those of you who share my love of this journey called our lives.
My intent is not to bore you but to share a small thought and pic with you that hopefully will inspire you as well and empower you to seek a closer relationship with God. I use all my own pictures – I love taking pictures. There is something magical to me to snap that shot and know it is frozen in time . . . forever.
The topic I have chosen is grieving. Based on my most popular posts, I realize it overwhelms many of you just as it has me in the past years and continues to so often. It is my prayer and hope in sharing some of the lessons I have learned in the process, you will be able to continue on your journey of grieving. This is a process that looks completely different for Every. Single. One of us.
Don’t let anyone else define what your grieving process is for you. It looks different in each of us. That is the first thing I have learned.
As we are graced with the passing of time, we carry grief differently. It is ever changing. Just as we come to peace with it, something triggers a memory or a conversation brings it face to face with you again.
It’s ok.
In this month of writing, we are going to find stories of joy, laughter, quiet times and peace. The seasons of grieving move us through all of them. This is not about being sad and staying sad. It is about motion. Moving through. Just as seasons change and move us, our relationship with grief does the same.
I use the word grieving as opposed to grief or grieve. I have learned it is a continual process – there will be times we all feel stuck in our grief, yet, if we learn it is a part of us we can actively engage with – it becomes an action – not something that defines us – but a part of us we acknowledge and accept and engage with in our journeys.
We can, at times, feel stuck and as though we will never move through this feeling of being overwhelmed and consumed with grief. Let’s give ourselves grace. Become patient with ourselves, yet, become aware that it will hold us prisoners if we give it the power to.
“Lord, please come along side us as we delve into this very real challenge many of us face. Turn our grief into grieving – give us the courage to face it and invite You into the process of what we can learn from You. We know You know grief well. When we read of your grief, we can envision Your tears. We hear Your pain in Your words. We ask You to teach us in these 31 days – show us how Your love enters into this discussion and moves into our hearts and changes us. Keep us moving. Let us pause when we need to pause.
Forgive us when we forget how much You love us Lord. Bless our desire to grow closer to You. Amen.”
Enough for today – talk to you tomorrow –
In hope – sharing peace – Janet
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Posts in this series:
- Day 1: Inside Out
- Day 2: My Peace
- Day 3: Twice the Grief
- Day 4: Focus Through the Chaos
- Day 5: The Lord of Peace
- Day 6: A Mother’s Grief
- Day 7: Storm Preparedness
- Day 8: Containing Grief
- Day 9: The Gift
- Day 10: Just Breathe
- Day 11: The Light in the Grief
- Day 12:
- Day 13: Healing Tears
- Day 14: India – One Story – One Day
- Day 15: And Then…Anger Showed Up
- Day 16: Birds on the Wire
- Day 17: Lift Our Eyes
- Day 18: We Should Love
- Day 19: Learning How to Handle Loss
- Day 20: When Life is a Blur
- Day 21: Grandma’s Scratch Paper
- Day 22: The Tale of the Snake
- Day 23: Flat Landers
- Day 24: Singing in the Pew
- Day 25: Bit and Pieces – of Peace My Friends
- Day 26: First Light
- Day 27:
- Day 28:
- Day 29:
- Day 30:
We lost our 29 year old daughter 5 years ago this coming October 5. May God bless you as you share your journey with us all!
Thank you for letting us know about your journey Mary. As the date approaches, I know your heart is full. May you find comfort in knowing others are listening and may God surround you with peace.
Grief and grieving are topics most people shy away from. I look forward to this journey with you. (I am a life coach who specializes in grief.)
I love the idea of turning grief from a noun to a verb…good stuff already!
Thanks for joining us Tammy. So happy to have you. I’m looking forward to learning from everyone!
Thank you for sharing Janet, i am looking forward to following along.
We lost our 5 year old son 23 years ago and I wish someone had reminded me then about grieving… still learning and looking forward to your encouraging words.
welcome Tina – grief is so personal isn’t it? There is so much to learn and I am grateful we can encourage and learn from each other.
I’m challenging myself with writing 31 days too Janet and holy cow is it a challenge. I pray that God will use this to grow you and encourage others. Blessings!
Nicki – It really is quite the challenge – I wasn’t sure what it even looked like to write with such focus. I know I have learned so much already – it’s only the 10th day – goodness. I pray for both of us that God will grow us and use us to share the encouragement we receive from Him. Thanks for reading! I’m heading over to your blog now! Blessings to you.