grieving
Disappearing Act: Let Your Grief Breathe
I disappeared this year. Not just a quiet period away from social media, but a full on disappearance from my life. I never quite made it to hang out with friends and I sat in the hallway during church, unable to engage with a sermon or much of the music. When I sat down to…
Why You Never Leave Your Grieving Friend Alone
“You’ve got so much going on. I didn’t want to burden you with my hard stuff.” “I didn’t want to make you more sad. I try and only share stuff that will cheer you up.” “I wasn’t sure if I should say anything. I hate to bother you.” I’ve heard dozens of versions of those…
When You Feel Broken At Christmas
Everywhere I look, there are signs of a shiny, bright, perfect Christmas. Smiling family photos. Perfectly decorated homes and trees. Happy people enjoying happy friends at happy Christmas parties. Christmas movies that elicit giggles and end in magical first kisses. Cookies and hot cocoa and fires and snow (or at least dreams of it). Sometimes…
When You Feel Stuck on the Outside of Your Life
A reality of grief and depression is that you often feel stuck outside of your life. Last week, I had a few days where I felt like I was watching my life and not living it. I took deep breaths, trying to ground myself, feeling like I was floating away with nothing to pull me…
The Weary World Rejoices: Hope When Christmas is Hard
“…the weary world rejoices…” I recently heard author Paul Tripp call Christmas “the sufferers holiday.” Joseph and Mary were without a home. Herod was about to order the execution of all boys under two years old. The Jewish people were under Roman occupation. The first Christmas did not happen during an easy or happy time….
Reflections From An Air Force Widow
This post is not meant to upstage anyone who is struggling this Memorial Day due to the loss of a loved one or with PTSD of lost airmen, soldiers, and sailors. This can be a difficult holiday for so many reasons. Memorial Day has crept up and taken me by surprise. I do not presume…
When Your Heart Feels Scraped Open
When I was in Kindergarten I remember being impressed with the fact that my knees were constantly scraped open. I laugh now thinking about how it was because of my inability to walk anywhere without tripping over myself. Regardless of how I achieved the look, I had scars on my knees until 5th grade. My…