Christmas tree with fresh snow in forest.

Good Neighbors

In the nighttime when I get up, I can look out of our bedroom window and see the lighted Christmas tree that belongs to the church directly behind our house.  We are constantly blessed by this good neighbor when we hear the hourly carols during the Christmas season, and lovely hymns throughout the year, and additionally blessed to have a lovely quiet building in close proximity, with its cross on the steeple that glows in the early morning light. The beauty of this during this season, which is fraught with memory and nostalgia, is something I contemplate frequently.  Heartbreak has its counterpoint in light.

Growth

True growth, for me, has been spurred by pain.  Losing Jon was the impetus for my rush to my church home.  I was looking for a home for my heart, and found meaning, relationships, and a clear and undeniable path to God.  Peace has come to my heart, even though this year has seen several devastating losses.  The memories from our angels glow warmly.

I have been away from this blog for a while now as my time has been spent on organizing a book which I am going to try to find a publisher for, and I understand this is a process.  First, I must find a literary agent, which seems like a struggle.  But, step by step…

Gratitude

One of my most profound paths to healing has been keeping a gratitude journal.  It sets your perspective on the good first thing in the morning.  Now I just think of each of the things I am grateful for – the beauty of the frost on our early morning walks, my dog’s joyfulness, the first rich cup of coffee in the morning.  Then again, at the end of the day, I try to remember to review the small moments of the day that made me smile.  It is so easy to fall into despair when watching the news or scrolling the incessant social media negativity.  I hone my social media to show positive and uplifting stories, and watch very little if any news. Politics are a cesspool to me.

I listen daily to the quiet messages.

This week I was endlessly grateful to take a trip a few hours to see my son Ben.  He is living in a small town with his girlfriend, has a job he likes with people he enjoys.  His doing well is so heartening to me, so fulfilling.  My prayers will keep holding him front and center that he continues on the good path.

Peace and hope lift my heart.