My dear Friends,
I’m here today to tell you, while I really want to write a shiny piece of encouragement, I’m gonna have to keep it short, simple, and sweet. I’m experiencing something familiar to many of you.
You see, my once strong, sassy mom is not well. Her dementia progressed so quickly a few weeks ago, we thought for sure she suffered a stroke. But, extensive testing shows nothing major occurred. She is in the late stages of dementia and it hurts to see her like that. Pain, confusion, anxiety.
As you know, grief is not new to me. So, I figured as I process it, I’ll just power on and through and write my blog and newspaper column and finish the second half of my book and manage my home and my ebbing hormones:) … and oh yes, build relationships, and babysit, and work hard at the candy store, and … and … and …
Sadness. Pain. Confusion. Anxiety.
My counsellor told me that yes, I know how to “do” grief. But, this is new. This is my mom. I’m grieving past, present, and future loss. In some ways, it’s harder, with new depth and scary twists. I grieve what we didn’t have. What she’s enduring now. And pain, yet unknown, in the days to come without her.
So, this season ebbs and flows. As much as I want to Wonder Woman this, I’m slowing down. While I don’t want to feel this new pain, I don’t want to miss it either. I don’t want to miss what it will teach me and a new depth of God’s comfort and healing. I surrender to the process.
I’ll do as my counselor reminds me. I’ll breathe. And just Be.
And now a little love note wisps into my thoughts,
Robin, Be still. And know I AM. ~God
Yes, my friends. That’s for all of us. Be still. May we give ourselves freedom and compassion and the courage to feel and heal and not lose sight of abundant, beautiful life around us. Joy and Grief really do co-exist.
Grace and Peace,
~Robin
Photo borrowed from Pixabay.com
I’m experiencing a similar situation with my mom & the beginning of cancer treatment. Thanks for these words of encouragement…praying for you.
Vivian, I’m sorry to hear of your current struggle. My sister just came through a year of aggressive chemo/radiation. Ah, my freind. I’ll pray for you and your mom when I think of mine. You encourage me. Always have.
Dear one,
You express your pain and that of so many others who have, and are, traveling this on-going road of loss. Jesus wept! The Word did not tell us His thoughts as He wept, but I’m sure the grief could be summed up as similar as ours yes with the all knowing thoughts of God. What a fallen world we live in, and it groans as well, waiting to be released and be made new. Prayers for you, Robin, and your family as you are still and remember continually that God is God. He is sovereign and as close as our next breath. Prayers coming your way, dear one.
Lilly, what a wonderful surprise to find you here:) Your words are a great comfort to me. Fresh, living water. Thank you so much. God’s peace and grace to you.