A Widow's Might

LOVING LIFE: A NEW BEGINNING

What do you do when you have never really lived by yourself - I mean never. Lots of suggestions come along-get a pet: a cat, a dog, a tweeting bird, a ferret, and other such animals. Get married again (just when you are getting used to living with yourself). Keep busy (doing what?). It seems to me that being busy for busy’s sake is rather foolish, unproductive and wasteful of one’s time. People want to fix you and they do mean well when these suggestions are posed.

As difficult as the adjustment is going from three living in your home to one, especially when the two change their address to 777 Streets of Gold, Heaven, the future can be enormously bright. Even when memories provoke a gamut of emotions, those memories can become treasures and life an adventure. It isn’t a simple process, but it certainly is an attainable goal. In addition, it is a goal you cannot reach by yourself but must pursue by resting in the grace and mercy of Almighty God during the pursuit.

It seems when emotions are strained it is difficult to focus and think. Raw emotions provoke raw responses that don’t truly reflect how you honestly feel. A complex stew of feelings and emotional weariness makes even the simplest of tasks seem an enormous undertaking. There is a solution, but it does take an inner resolve to daily press into that solution. Too often we take the opinions of the well meaning and try them out delaying our pressing on towards the goal we truly want.

How do we get out of the stew and move on? This may sound simplistic, but it is something I found to be the way, the truth and the life. Seek the Lord with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength, even when your heart is broken, your mind is confused and your strength is puny. It is like learning a new task or exercising when you haven’t in a long time. You begin by doing it in small ways, but staying consistent in your doing. Pursue your goal of finding peace, joy and feeling love again by taking a little time with the Lord each day. Pick up the Word, the Bible, and feed yourself with its love and power. His Word works its truth in your inner self and you begin to notice change. Things that once would bring irritation don’t. People that once brought pressure won’t feel so threatening. You laugh again and times of sorrow diminish. People notice the change and tell you about it. You begin to find out who you are and the identity that you once thought was yours changes into the identity the Lord gives to you.

Interestingly, you not only like the person you are but love the person you become. As you lean on Him to fashion and form you, you can bank on the fact that God makes all things new and beautiful. Life will have hope and excitement for the future because He has a future and a hope for you. This really is true - you just need to take a step forward, no matter how small that step seems.

Laughing again, loving again, hoping again without feeling guilty is a wonderful place to be. Life is worth living again and it is a joy!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  Jeremiah 29: 11-13