Morning…

Hi…just thinking…I want to make sure you know I have a lot of compassion for people that have lost someone and are grieving. I sort of rushed through that quickly and I don’t want anyone to think any of this stuff is easy and doesn’t take time…but you can still live while you are going through things. That’s the hope and the goal anyway.

With prayer,  and I have been in many support groups, worship services, counseling sessions, conferences, cried with my clients, kicked screamed whatever I had to do to get better. I had to learn to be pretty transparent about whatever I was going through.

Lots of people seem to be able to work through things alone. For me, I’m a very relational person and always have lots of people around in my life. Guess you could say extrovert.

Just lately went to a retreat with RTF… Restoring The Foundations, and found out some new things about myself. We never stop learning and growing and getting stronger to help others. Remember? The crisis I went through showed me that helping others is my purpose?

I learned at this retreat, when I moved to this new place 12 years ago and moved away from my town of 48 years, children moved out of home (empty nest), went through menopause, gave up 30 year salon business, started new marriage, new life…. I got hit with PTSD.

I tried to work in so, so many different salons to not fit in,  things were just different than they were before. There were many new things that were wonderful! I had a wonderful new husband, thank God! But talk about SHIFT!!

I was so grateful at this time for all of the different things I had learned through the years to hang on to. I really did lose my voice though. I didn’t know I loved to write so I didn’t. That might have helped me.

The new salons had young women that did new things, all new people around that didn’t know me or what I was all about. Didn’t know that they could trust me. Didn’t know that I meant well.

It takes time sometimes. We have to learn not to rush things. We can still live, love, and enjoy life, even though it is different. I still knew there was a purpose. I still knew I had done what God had told me to do. I still had to hold onto that.

My new husband had a dream, he saw my eyes in the dream. He went to work and a prophet told him marry the one on the right. That was the confirmation, that was God telling me I was on the right track. There was no doubt. There were many huge obstacles but no doubt.

I had to learn a new normal. I had to learn to not be too hard on myself. I had to learn that I don’t have all the answers for others, they have to do some of the same things I have had to do to get better. They can’t get it from me, they can’t get it from being around me, they have to connect with God just like I did. He is the savior not any other thing. All these tools just lead to Him, His Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

While my voice was lost, I could not even mention the name Jesus to anyone and on FB. I was in a new land that didn’t understand. My old land knew that I was all about that, but this new land didn’t understand.

Many in this whole land know the name, and go to the building. But it’s not in their heart, changing their attitudes, and helping them cope, and helping them find their purpose, and helping them know answers or which direction to turn. It’s not big enough to help them discern who is lying or who is mean.

It can be that real..really.

My voice is open. I’m not afraid to mention it anymore. Because, you see, I went through all kinds of horrible events in my life to rise up out of the ashes and let you know that it can happen to anyone that wants it.

I won’t push, I promise…. just giving you the info. It’s up to you!

I wish the best for you!!

Hope to see you tomorrow