Thinking Aloud

To start from part one, click here.

Some of you are saying, “I want to go in new directions but I don’t know how to move on from the past.” I’ve read your comments. All of them.

In the Meaningful Memories post many of you mentioned it was hard to find even one good memory. I left a comment for you too…

“For those of you who said it can be hard to find a happy memory… you are so right. Hurt seems to stay right there on the surface. Digging through it to the joy takes a lot of work! I am sorry for the heartache you’ve endured.

I wish I could take each ‘little girl in you’ in my arms today. I would set you on my lap, look into your beautiful eyes, and tell you…

‘This is never how God intended it to be. You are loved, chosen, cherished, wanted, of great worth, and you will amount to MUCH in His Kingdom.’ ”

We live in a fallen world. None of our stories are as they should be, some more than others. I wish I could make healing happen right here, right now. As you already know, it’s a journey far more complicated than a blog post.

As I thought of you, my eyes drifted to my bookshelf. And I want to share several books that have helped in my personal healing…

Making Peace with Your Past by H. Norman Wright

Recovering from Losses in Life by H. Norman Wright

Changes that Heal by Dr. Henry Cloud

Life’s Healing Choices by John Baker

Breaking Free by Beth Moore

Rain on Me by Holley Gerth

(I wrote this book out of my ongoing journey of loss. It’s about healing in the middle of the storm, even if you don’t know when blue skies are coming.)

Whether your hurts are recent (like mine) or from many years ago, God cares.

It’s a bit of a cliché but still too true not to say…

He really does want to transform our history into HIS STORY.

Today the next S.T.E.P. for all of us is just whispering a ten word prayer, “A little more healing, Lord, a little more healing today….”

I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland…so my chosen people can be refreshed. – God, Isaiah 43

** If the hurts in your history are interfering with your daily life I would encourage you to seek out a trusted counselor. (I have several times!)

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TODAY’S QUESTION:
What has helped bring healing to your history?

Purpleclick:
What helps bring healing?
People, mostly women, who really come alongside you, and who are not trying to “fix” you.

I remember a special retreat conducted by a group of ladies (girlfriends) from USA. They call their ministry “Destiny Women”. We had sessions of charting our journey from birth, identifying lies,  rhythm of rest and discovering God’s purposes for our lives. We had rich experiences like worship dance, soaking (warm spa pillows wrap our neck & shoulders and warm basin of water for our feet, with worship music in the background) and healing prayers.

I learnt to embrace more of my womanhood and know that I am “not there yet”. I was more aware of the process of finding my unique role, the only place I can fill… what’s “just my size”. And as I look back on my evaluation notes where I wrote my action S.T.E.P.s,… it is lining up with what I’m discovering through this challenge with you, Holley!

I have to mention though that what speaks to my heart is that these Destiny girlfriends have also “not arrived”… (they are in their 50s and 60s) and are still going through… well, life, with all its twists and turns! And in the same way, Holley, your blog (words) is very healing because you let us know you are also still very much “on the journey” with us. Thank you.

(February 03,  2010 at 08:46 PM)

Holley’s Prayer:
Lord, I thank you for gathering your daughters on these pages today.
As I read their words, I feel your love for them–
the way you ache when they do, the way you rejoice as they heal.
God, sometimes this life is just hard.
And yet you meet us in those places too…
turn our ashes into beauty,
joy into mourning,
gently and with such tenderness.
We do pray for continued healing in our lives,
a little more each day,
and for new opportunities to share that healing with others.
You are our HOPE, our Redeemer,
the One who holds our hearts in His hands.
We are safe with you,
not in the way the world thinks of it…that nothing hard will ever come,
but rather a much deeper, wilder safe
that says though the storms beat against the house it will not fall
because its foundation is upon the Rock.
So we stand tall, beloved, beautiful,
glad to be your daughters, trusting in you for today,
hoping in your for tomorrow,
surrendering ourselves to you always.
Amen.