The Love Holiday

This week we will celebrate a holiday that is typically known as the “love holiday.” Millions of dollars will be spent on chocolate candies and flowers. The phone lines will be busy all day long making calls to special people. The card shops will be busy with all of the last minute shoppers for Valentine’s Day.

Yet, in the midst of all of this happiness there will be countless people grieving losses and feeling the hollow hole that can only be created by being alone. This day, February 14, will be one that will pass by and so many will feel alone, unloved, and forgotten.

Losing a loved one is a pain that is hard to describe. And, losing a child is a pain that is even more difficult to describe because children are never supposed to die before their parents. But, the sad truth is that every day this type of loss occurs leaving many parents grieving and feeling lost in a world that hardly seems to care.

Let us never forget, no matter what type of loss we are grieving, that we are never alone. God has promised to be by our side, to care for us, and to tenderly provide what we need especially during our times of brokenness.

Every time you look at the intricate markings on a flower or see the sunbeams dancing from heaven, be reminded that your Father made them with great care. Remember, too, that He made you, He knows you, and He has known you since the beginning of time. What a thought! We are never alone or forgotten with God as our Father!

On this special day when love seems to be in the air, sit still and allow God to embrace you with His love. Close your eyes and feel His very presence, and know that all is well with your soul when God is by your side! –C. Hinton

“God is the one and only true love.” --Clara Hinton

“Thou art my hope; O Lord God…..” --Psalm 71:5

Don't be Afraid to Face the Holidays!

The holiday season is here, and for many this is a time of special family gatherings, festive occasions, and getting together for meals and laughter. For others, though, this is a season of sadness, tears, and sorrow. When a loved one is no longer with us, we feel the emptiness even more during those special days called “family days.”

Gathering the strength to get through the holidays can be difficult. At times, we feel overwhelmed and so lonely that we think we will not be able to make it through the day. A tear falling from our heart stains every minute of the day and night.

God, in His infinite wisdom, seems to know exactly the right moment to place hope in our lives. He knows when we need to hear His voice whispering in our ear that He loves us. He knows when to send the rainbow to paint the sky so that we will be reminded of His promises. He knows when to give us rest from our heavy burdens by sending a friend to give us a strong shoulder and a listening ear. He knows when to give our weary souls rest from the heaviness of grief by sending the bright sunshine to warm our souls.

Don’t worry about facing the holidays alone because you have a Friend that is always with you. He is your Father, your Shepherd, and your Friend. His promises are true, and he cannot leave you because you are made in His image. And, above all else, He is your hope! --Clara Hinton

“There is relief from this wound we call grief, and that relief is hope!” --Clara Hinton

“Cease striving, and know that I am God.” --Psalm 46:10

Thanksgiving Day -- How to say "Thank You" when in Pain

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is focused on giving God thanks for all of our many blessings. This is a family oriented holiday, and one where most families take time out to gather around the table, bow their heads, and speak gracious words of praise and thanks for all of the abundance we have in our lives.

The reality of life is that on this Thanksgiving Day many people will suffer some of the greatest pain known to all of mankind. Loneliness. Depression. Isolation. Rejection. Broken relationships. Job loss. Hunger. Mental, physical, and emotional fatigue. And, the worst pain of all – the loss of a loved one. Not everyone will be able to sincerely say “thank you” for the abundance of blessings when going through the heavy trials of life.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, may our hearts be constantly reminded that we have not been left alone in our sorrow. We have only to fix our gaze on the rising of the sun to know that God is right beside us ushering in each new day. As we listen to the babbling brook we can hear His voice gently calming our broken spirit with reminders that His strength is mightier than any problem.

Being thankful during times of pain is not easy, yet it can be done. It must be done in order to experience the peace that is beyond all human understanding. Often, it is in our brokenness that we can feel God’s personal touch in our lives. What a blessing to know that He cares. What a comfort to close our eyes at the end of each day and know with full assurance that God is holding us close! -- C. Hinton

“Thankfulness is a by-product of hope.” --Clara Hinton

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -- Romans 8:38-39