It's all about the Journey

Well, life must be rolling along, I have a post that has little to nothing to do with the storm...

I went out to Portland this last weekend and had SUCH a lovely time with girlfriends and family.  My soul felt so refreshed by visits, lunch dates, praise times, etc that I was so blessed to take part in repeatedly over the weekend.  Over and over, as I shared my story, and others shared their stories I found the recurring theme of 'Life is a Journey, and God designed it so that when we journey together with others, we all become stronger, better people through the process."  The storm has healed parts of me that were longing for healing, I have finally found a new place to be, that involves a lot less darkness in my soul (I believe - after all it HAS only been just over five months, I know this, and acknowledge the fact that I could still face some 'downswings' on the depression-recovery road).  But as a whole, my life now involves a lot more trusting of God, and KNOWING that I AM His child, and resting in the knowledge (not just a flimsy 'hope') that He WILL take care of me.  I am waking up, emotionally, from a long dark period in my life, and experiencing emotions in a new way.  I am looking back over my life, and partly through the insights gained from a book I'm reading on prayer, and partly through insights from conversations with all of these great friends God has blessed me with, I am starting to see events in my past in a new light.  There is joy in my soul!!

Today, as I drove home from a quick run to the grocery store, I saw some Queen Anne's lace growing by the road.  Often, in the past, it was a slightly painful thing to see, because it was my mother's favorite flower.  I sometimes picked one to bring home, because it reminded me of her, but not usually in a joyful, thankful, way, usually more of a poignant, missing-her sort of way.  Today, when I saw them, it made me SMILE.  To think how blessed I was to have her for my mom, to be able to say, "I have cells of her cells and my habits and thoughts originated in her." What a BLESSING!!  Even though I only had her in my life for seven short years, those years in a person's life are actually THE most important years, in forming their character, and getting them on a firm foundation for life.  I am blessed to have had her for those most important years.  It is nice to be in a place where I can think of her, or see something that reminds me of her, and have happy thoughts, and joyful feelings.  Healing is SUCH a good thing, but for it to be FINALLY coming, after all of these years, I think I count it as especially precious.  God is GOOD.  

Find someone to journey with, share your thoughts, insights, pains, downfalls... be real.  God will bless both of you through it.

And, before I go - THANK YOU to ALL of those who have walked with me, over the years.  I could start a list here, but I would certainly leave someone off - so, lame as it might seem - you know who you are!!  I thank God for you!!!  You have blessed me in ways you can not even begin to imagine!