Wednesday 30 May 2012

Empathy

Today I heard the sad news that my lovely friends mum had died. It was a short illness and consequently a very sudden end. It's been a tough couple of weeks for the family with lots of travelling backwards and forwards to the hospital, as well as the emotional journey they've all been on. As a friend I, along with other close friends, have tried to help practically as well as praying together for the whole situation. However there's always that part of you that feels so helpless and useless and hates seeing your friends going through tough stuff. You want to make it all better and wave a magic wand and it all not be there anymore. We all know that can't happen though and as we are told in the bible 'we will have troubles'.

I know that my own experiences will help me to empathise with the family although grieving is a very personal process and one that no one can fully understand.
I'm reminded of the passage in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort
we ourselves have received from God.'


'As high as the Heavens are above the earth, so high are your ways to mine'

Thursday 24 May 2012

Prompted to blog

Yesterday I spent a wonderful day at 'Fourteen+'. This is a retreat day held at Oakwood and run by two lovely ladies, the host of the house Liz Pudner, and Melitta Cullis a creative whiz. Two very different people but two ladies who fit together like a glove as they share the same passion to create a space for women to 'spend time' and be refreshed. The beautiful surroundings of the house are added to by the creative resources made available to us to dip into. There are bible verses and photographs to focus our minds, there are books and magazines to delve into, sand trays to write in and be creative with, paints and an arty table to practise your art skills. Or you can just sit and soak in the wonderful atmosphere, ponder and pray. To find out more about it all click here.

Yesterday was a special day for me as it was the fourth anniversary of my mum passing away. I was glad I was where I was, and able to just spend time remembering her, the love she had for me and the love we shared as a family.

It's been a difficult four years. I initially thought I was coping quite well with losing my mum who was more than a mum to me. But over the last year or so I've realized that grief can be a strange thing and can grab you from behind when you're not looking.

I'm a 'coper' in life and see myself as quite self reliant and someone who tends to support others. But over the last year I've come to appreciate that I needed other people. I needed communication, I needed a hug now and then, and although I'm not normally a talker, I needed to talk!!

This blog has helped me to process an awful lot of stuff and I'd come to a place where I didn't feel I had anything else to say. However yesterday while at Fourteen+ I was prompted by a friend to get back to blogging as she felt I had more to give. So here I am back with you all after a few months break.

I hope I can be a blessing to you as I share some of what's on my heart over the next few months.