This is the season when we are supposed to be filled with joy and thanksgiving, yet it is so difficult to even say those words during times of painful loss. There is an emptiness that won’t go away, that can’t seem to be filled, and that continually gnaws at the heartstrings letting us know that something is wrong.
Remind yourself often that grief is a very private matter, and it affects all of our relationships with family, friends, and our world. Inwardly we know that there will be a day and a time when we can freely and easily say “thank you,” but maybe that day is not right now. The important thing is to know that there will be a day when you will feel joy and thankfulness again.
A good alternative to thankfulness is trusting……trusting that one day you will feel thankful. Trusting that you will smile again. Trusting that you will laugh with others again. Trusting that you will love again.
There is a seed of inner strength we call hope that is embedded deep within the center of your heart, and in due time that seed will sprout. And, you will know because what is now dark will come alive. What is now sorrow will be joy. What is now pain will be peace. Trust and hope and thankfulness will follow! –C. Hinton
“I will trust when I cannot see.” --Clara Hinton
“But as for me, I trust in Thee, O Lord.” --Psalm 31:14a
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Hope Awakens Your Soul and Gives New Strength!
Hope is not a weak sentiment, but it is a robust and vigorous confidence built on knowing that we will get through this trial of loneliness, separation, and grief over our loss. Shipwreck occurs following a loss, but we don’t have to stay that way forever thanks to the assurance of the living hope within us!
If you are feeling alone and lost today, don’t give up! Remember that just as the sun has risen to awaken a new day, so will the hope that is asleep in you be awakened to meet your needs for courage and the will to go on to find your new normal in a world that is now so different for you.
When you begin to falter, surround yourself with nature and fill your heart and soul be renewed with fresh hope! Watch for the evening stars to light up the dark sky, and know that the hope that is abiding in you will light up your darkest night,
also.
Trust. Cast aside fear. Remind yourself often that you are not alone. And, soon you will be filled with new hope to carry you through! --Clara Hinton
“Hope is that heroic step of throwing yourself into total confidence in God.” --Clara Hinton
“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in Thee.” --Psalm 39:7
If you are feeling alone and lost today, don’t give up! Remember that just as the sun has risen to awaken a new day, so will the hope that is asleep in you be awakened to meet your needs for courage and the will to go on to find your new normal in a world that is now so different for you.
When you begin to falter, surround yourself with nature and fill your heart and soul be renewed with fresh hope! Watch for the evening stars to light up the dark sky, and know that the hope that is abiding in you will light up your darkest night,
also.
Trust. Cast aside fear. Remind yourself often that you are not alone. And, soon you will be filled with new hope to carry you through! --Clara Hinton
“Hope is that heroic step of throwing yourself into total confidence in God.” --Clara Hinton
“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in Thee.” --Psalm 39:7
Monday, August 31, 2009
When It's Difficult to Say Thank You
When you woke up this morning, what did you feel? Anger? Pain? Resentment? Bitterness? Emptiness? Fear? All of these emotions and feelings are directly linked to grief and will alter your day considerably. We will no longer be able to see the sunshine when our day begins under the constant hovering of the storm clouds.
Grief is real. It is painful. And, it hurts. But, the good news is that HOPE is also real, and hope is far more powerful than our grief. Hope helps us to feel joy.
Hope brings meaning back to life. And, hope begins the wonderful process of healing.
Try this for the next 30 days and see what happens. Guaranteed if you begin each day by saying “thank you” for something – no matter how small – you will begin to see hope emerge and blossom in your life.
Thank you for my daily food. Thank you for the sunshine. Thank you for a car that works. Thank you for eyes that see. Thank you for feet that help me stand. Thank you for the grass that grows, flowers that bloom, and the stars that light up the evening sky. Eventually, you will
be able to say the most precious words of all, “Thank you for giving me hope.” --Clara Hinton
“When you get to what seems like a hopeless place in your life, hold on a minute longer. It is right at that point that the tide is beginning to turn.” --Clara Hinton
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.” --Psalm 46:1-2a
Grief is real. It is painful. And, it hurts. But, the good news is that HOPE is also real, and hope is far more powerful than our grief. Hope helps us to feel joy.
Hope brings meaning back to life. And, hope begins the wonderful process of healing.
Try this for the next 30 days and see what happens. Guaranteed if you begin each day by saying “thank you” for something – no matter how small – you will begin to see hope emerge and blossom in your life.
Thank you for my daily food. Thank you for the sunshine. Thank you for a car that works. Thank you for eyes that see. Thank you for feet that help me stand. Thank you for the grass that grows, flowers that bloom, and the stars that light up the evening sky. Eventually, you will
be able to say the most precious words of all, “Thank you for giving me hope.” --Clara Hinton
“When you get to what seems like a hopeless place in your life, hold on a minute longer. It is right at that point that the tide is beginning to turn.” --Clara Hinton
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.” --Psalm 46:1-2a
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
It's Okay to Shed Tears
Grief carries its own set of burdens, and among all of them, we don’t need to deal with the burden of when it is okay to shed tears. It’s okay to cry – anywhere, at any time, and any amount. Allow the tears to flow, and think of them as “healing rain from heaven”, for our tears bring cleansing and comfort. We were designed to cry when we are in pain!!!
Little by little, as we work through some of the most difficult days of pain, our tears will begin to lessen, and the tears that have fallen will now be the life support for the new joy that will begin to sprout from the innermost being of our hearts.
If you are struggling with grief and pain today, remember that your sadness will not last forever. Deep within your being is a seed of HOPE that is being watered daily by your tears! –C. Hinton
“Even in my sorrow, hope holds me in its embrace.” --Clara Hinton
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us.” -- Romans 8:37
Little by little, as we work through some of the most difficult days of pain, our tears will begin to lessen, and the tears that have fallen will now be the life support for the new joy that will begin to sprout from the innermost being of our hearts.
If you are struggling with grief and pain today, remember that your sadness will not last forever. Deep within your being is a seed of HOPE that is being watered daily by your tears! –C. Hinton
“Even in my sorrow, hope holds me in its embrace.” --Clara Hinton
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us.” -- Romans 8:37
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Winter Months Leave Us Longing for Refreshment
Winter months leave us longing for color and refreshment in our lives. When springtime
finally arrives, we are often in awe of nature and all of the daily miracles that unfold
before our eyes with the changing of brown to green, cold to warm, sticks to leaves, and bitter wind to warm sunshine.
Perhaps more than anything, the changing of seasons gives is HOPE. Hope that our day of darkness will not last forever. Hope that tomorrow is one more step forward in the journey towards healing. Hope that every day is a miracle. Hope that my miracle is waiting to unfold right before my very eyes!
If you are feeling lost in a sea of grief today, please remind yourself that winter does not last forever. Spring does arrive, and when it does, it will bring with it a refreshing new time of nurturing and hope! --Clara Hinton
“Today I will trust that my season of grief will turn into a season of renewed hope, peace, and new found joy.” –C. Hinton
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” -Psalm 23:1
finally arrives, we are often in awe of nature and all of the daily miracles that unfold
before our eyes with the changing of brown to green, cold to warm, sticks to leaves, and bitter wind to warm sunshine.
Perhaps more than anything, the changing of seasons gives is HOPE. Hope that our day of darkness will not last forever. Hope that tomorrow is one more step forward in the journey towards healing. Hope that every day is a miracle. Hope that my miracle is waiting to unfold right before my very eyes!
If you are feeling lost in a sea of grief today, please remind yourself that winter does not last forever. Spring does arrive, and when it does, it will bring with it a refreshing new time of nurturing and hope! --Clara Hinton
“Today I will trust that my season of grief will turn into a season of renewed hope, peace, and new found joy.” –C. Hinton
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” -Psalm 23:1
Winter Does Not Last Forever!
Winter months leave us longing for color and refreshment in our lives. When springtime finally arrives, we are often in awe of nature and all of the daily miracles that unfold before our eyes with the changing of brown to green, cold to warm, sticks to leaves, and bitter wind to warm sunshine.
Perhaps more than anything, the changing of seasons gives us HOPE. Hope that our day of darkness will not last forever. Hope that tomorrow is one more step forward in the journey towards healing. Hope that every day is a miracle. Hope that my miracle is waiting to unfold right before my very eyes!
If you are feeling lost in a sea of grief today, please remind yourself that winter does not last forever. Spring does arrive, and when it does, it will bring with it a refreshing new time of nurturing and hope! --Clara Hinton
“Today I will trust that my season of grief will turn into a season of renewed hope, peace, and new found joy.” –C. Hinton
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” -Psalm 23:1
Perhaps more than anything, the changing of seasons gives us HOPE. Hope that our day of darkness will not last forever. Hope that tomorrow is one more step forward in the journey towards healing. Hope that every day is a miracle. Hope that my miracle is waiting to unfold right before my very eyes!
If you are feeling lost in a sea of grief today, please remind yourself that winter does not last forever. Spring does arrive, and when it does, it will bring with it a refreshing new time of nurturing and hope! --Clara Hinton
“Today I will trust that my season of grief will turn into a season of renewed hope, peace, and new found joy.” –C. Hinton
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” -Psalm 23:1
Monday, May 18, 2009
Hope is in the Call of the Whippoorwill!
The sun is shining, but I don’t see it. The air is warm, but I don’t feel it. The food is cooking, but I don’t smell it. I’m in pain, and nobody else acknowledges it.
Those are the words spoken be a broken heart, and sadly that has become the battle cry of millions of fellow sufferers in this new and foreign land called “grief.”
If you are now in this place of grief, only one thing will truly help you to begin to feel healing – and that one thing is HOPE!!!!
Hope is in the call of the whippoorwill echoing across the hills and vales. Hope is seen in the ebb and flow of the ocean waves lapping up to shore. Hope is found in the morning sunrise and the evening sunset. Hope is found in the smile of a stranger walking down the road.
Hope is alive and lives within the heart and soul of every human being. And, somehow hope knows when it is needed most, and will arrive in many different ways to let you know that you are never, ever alone! --Clara Hinton
“For Thou art my HOPE.” --Psalm 71:5a
Those are the words spoken be a broken heart, and sadly that has become the battle cry of millions of fellow sufferers in this new and foreign land called “grief.”
If you are now in this place of grief, only one thing will truly help you to begin to feel healing – and that one thing is HOPE!!!!
Hope is in the call of the whippoorwill echoing across the hills and vales. Hope is seen in the ebb and flow of the ocean waves lapping up to shore. Hope is found in the morning sunrise and the evening sunset. Hope is found in the smile of a stranger walking down the road.
Hope is alive and lives within the heart and soul of every human being. And, somehow hope knows when it is needed most, and will arrive in many different ways to let you know that you are never, ever alone! --Clara Hinton
“For Thou art my HOPE.” --Psalm 71:5a
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