STRUGGLES IN LIFE

Struggles, whether physical or spiritual, can be used by the triune Lord to  teach life lessons. The Holy Spirit can guide other believers to bless and encourage steps toward refreshment and recovery regardless of whether steps are coming or going in a "struggle".

 

Recovery can take time but regardless of where one is in her pain, it helps to know she's not alone. God's Presence can often be easily seen when in fellowship with others. The reality of a "struggle" journey is easier when one realizes the journey is not taken alone.....but is under the care of Jesus and His followers as the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

SO LONG 2024!

...even in times of troubles / struggles ! 

LEARNINGS FROM LITERATURE.....KIDDIE LIT, THAT IS

Reading aloud is important. I'm an advocate of that principle.

A child's receptive vocabulary is present much sooner than their expressive vocabulary and reading aloud is the way to increasing the breadth of that learning. Even as an adult I like to be a recipient of someone reading aloud---thus my Libby app  (audio from the public library) stays full!

Being a DiCamillo fan, (Because of Winn Dixie)  I picked this one up last week as I perused the kiddie lit shelves. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.

Learnings from a china bunny---aka recollections from a rabbit on a day after day, season after season, year after year of a miraculous "love" journey. 

• Beauty makes no difference. It all started with a story of a princess who loved no one and cared nothing for love, even though there were many who loved her. (p. 29) Self-centered, maybe?
• Is wanting to be with someone love? (p. 88)
• "We are going nowhere. That my friend is the irony of constant movement, Bull, the hobo. (p.95)
• He wanted to be with them. The rabbit wondered if that was love.
• And so he listened. And in his listening his heart opened wide and then wider still. (p.103) Reminds me of James 1:19, (emphasis, mine.)
• Love can include waiting. Loving can be painful. 
• Hugging feels good. (p.141)

Even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose and to love again is the learning listed on the book flap of the book. 

A learning to take to heart from a kid's book.

Chair of Discomfort at the Table of Life

It is the holiday season---a joyous celebration for Christians throughout the world.

However, Christmas does not exempt believers from hard places----deep hurts----struggles and longings as they face Christmas without their loved ones. The best reminder is that Emmanuel is "God with us!" (Matthew 1:23)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God......(1 Corinthians 1:3-4)

That's what friends of the faith do----reach out to others to comfort them, even when they are suffering themselves.

That's what Jerrie did----she invited me to lunch. She shared her bounty and served me in a glass that reminded me, "Don't get tangled in the tinsel."

Such an act helped me refocus----enabling me to cut through the Gordian knots of life. Fear, sadness and disappointments being chief among them. Kindness can aid in disentangling those "impossible" knots that too easily surface this time of year.

Intuitively, my hostess listened to me "unload" from my chair of discomfort and made the table of life seem a lot more palatable. Just sitting at her table made me smile!