Oh no worries! I was so nervous to host I barely slept. We haven't hosted since 2019 and, yeah, the pandemic threw our family into no man's land. But I'm here to say I cried when they all left last night because God has truly been putting us back together. "A loving patience" and moving on, letting go and "letting" is everything and what I thought would never be the same is coming back in a new and beautiful way. Seems we can all continue to be our same vibrant eclectic selves and do just fine. I did, however, put a large picture of our favorite dog (whose passed) on top of the dining room hutch for us to talk about! lol.
Happy very belated Canadian Thanksgiving!! I missed it 🤦♀️
Oh I love this Bob! I have Martin’s substack opened and am saving it for my late evening reading! Thank you so much. Being who God made us to be through our creativity is everything. ox
The last four or five years have been strange in so many ways. For example, I lost a good friendship with someone I knew since the mid-1980s, almost 40 years. It happened strangely enough in the early days of the Pandemic, in April 2020. It had nothing to do with Covid or politics, but something personal, an accusation directed at me that came out of nowhere. I was blindsided.
I do not remember what he said exactly, but he said I offended him. I apologized, to make the peace. He said my apology was not sincere. I tried hearing him out, but he remained accusatory and angry. Then I realized he was not looking for reconciliation. To protect myself, I had to close the door.
Four years later, I mourn the loss of what I had always thought was an excellent friendship. I was best man at his wedding. The last four years have been strange. Divisive and angry. It's in the air. It's palpable. This concerns me a lot.
Dear Perry, hard to hit the "like" button on this but I do understand it. I too had a best friend since beginning of high school and it didn't end like your friendship, but rather a slow thing beginning just before the pandemic and then realizing I wasn't even given a web link to "watch online" her daughter's wedding by Fall of 2020 (and my dad was beginning to look very sick and he passed 1/1/21). I did her daughter's college grad photography and she was very special with a unique heart condition. Marriage and children were very uncertain. Now she has both and it's just amazing 🩷 My friend wrote me a private Facebook message that she was sorry I lost my dad and how she remembered him fondly. Since I was grieving and had already been cancelled by family, I politely and kindly mentioned that "I was so very happy for her daughter but really sad I didn't get to see the wedding." It was all over Facebook with other high-school friends. Seems "avoidance" is the best way to say it's not really a friendship anymore. Avoidance is very destructive to others if we allow it to be - but mostly it's those who choose to avoid or never come up with a reason for it, that suffer the most I believe. It's in many types of relationships.
I haven't used Facebook since 2020. The only thing I posted was about some revivals going on. I was going through some very dark moments of grief. Also the person leading them was very much against the aggressive government and vaccines at this time. People needed to feel loved and valued, not alone and intimidated.
I believe I was judged. It's weird to me now though, that nothing like this hurts anymore. I was fine with "everyone's choice." It was very hard to make a "choice" not to get vaccinated because the canceling was brutal. As I speak of in this piece. My spirit is in tact and I pray you continue to rise to your own tune as well friend. You have an amazing spirit and I pray your friend realizes that someday - but it was his choice to close the door. Not yours. ox
What a powerful bridge, your piece ( and all of them really), from where we started and this day of Thanksgiving- what a miracle to be as you say “ intact “. Love to you from me and our family, I know we will keep each other forever.
Oh we will keep each other forever. Thank you my beautiful friend ❤️ I pray your Thanksgiving was full of His love and the spirit to keep trusting that He is sovereign, mighty and faithful to the end. Our eyes are opened wide to the revelation that is coming. We love you all very much. ox
I hosted for the first time since 2019 and witnessed for the first time in 4 years how God can work if you stay the course of love, but just keep moving forward with His spirit of truth. Let go and live.
Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving too! Sending you a big hug ❤️✨😘
Beautiful and heartfelt. We are all children of God. Sending your indomitable self a huge hug and my most sincere wishes for a happy Thanksgiving ❤️
Thank you my beautiful friend ❤️ Sending my love to you for a peaceful weekend ahead 😘
Thank you Deb! Sending you love , I hope your week was a great one!
Sorry, Deborah. I forgot to wish you a Happy American Thanksgiving to you and your family from a Canadian.
Oh no worries! I was so nervous to host I barely slept. We haven't hosted since 2019 and, yeah, the pandemic threw our family into no man's land. But I'm here to say I cried when they all left last night because God has truly been putting us back together. "A loving patience" and moving on, letting go and "letting" is everything and what I thought would never be the same is coming back in a new and beautiful way. Seems we can all continue to be our same vibrant eclectic selves and do just fine. I did, however, put a large picture of our favorite dog (whose passed) on top of the dining room hutch for us to talk about! lol.
Happy very belated Canadian Thanksgiving!! I missed it 🤦♀️
You may want to read Martin Brodsky's recent piece which I've reduced to "originality" - it's why I love to read your work!
Oh I love this Bob! I have Martin’s substack opened and am saving it for my late evening reading! Thank you so much. Being who God made us to be through our creativity is everything. ox
An indomitable spirit reminds me of one of my favorite songs -"When you walk through a storm hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark."
It does remind me of that song. I know it was Nana's favorite. Beautiful mom. Thank you. I love you. ox
The last four or five years have been strange in so many ways. For example, I lost a good friendship with someone I knew since the mid-1980s, almost 40 years. It happened strangely enough in the early days of the Pandemic, in April 2020. It had nothing to do with Covid or politics, but something personal, an accusation directed at me that came out of nowhere. I was blindsided.
I do not remember what he said exactly, but he said I offended him. I apologized, to make the peace. He said my apology was not sincere. I tried hearing him out, but he remained accusatory and angry. Then I realized he was not looking for reconciliation. To protect myself, I had to close the door.
Four years later, I mourn the loss of what I had always thought was an excellent friendship. I was best man at his wedding. The last four years have been strange. Divisive and angry. It's in the air. It's palpable. This concerns me a lot.
Dear Perry, hard to hit the "like" button on this but I do understand it. I too had a best friend since beginning of high school and it didn't end like your friendship, but rather a slow thing beginning just before the pandemic and then realizing I wasn't even given a web link to "watch online" her daughter's wedding by Fall of 2020 (and my dad was beginning to look very sick and he passed 1/1/21). I did her daughter's college grad photography and she was very special with a unique heart condition. Marriage and children were very uncertain. Now she has both and it's just amazing 🩷 My friend wrote me a private Facebook message that she was sorry I lost my dad and how she remembered him fondly. Since I was grieving and had already been cancelled by family, I politely and kindly mentioned that "I was so very happy for her daughter but really sad I didn't get to see the wedding." It was all over Facebook with other high-school friends. Seems "avoidance" is the best way to say it's not really a friendship anymore. Avoidance is very destructive to others if we allow it to be - but mostly it's those who choose to avoid or never come up with a reason for it, that suffer the most I believe. It's in many types of relationships.
I haven't used Facebook since 2020. The only thing I posted was about some revivals going on. I was going through some very dark moments of grief. Also the person leading them was very much against the aggressive government and vaccines at this time. People needed to feel loved and valued, not alone and intimidated.
I believe I was judged. It's weird to me now though, that nothing like this hurts anymore. I was fine with "everyone's choice." It was very hard to make a "choice" not to get vaccinated because the canceling was brutal. As I speak of in this piece. My spirit is in tact and I pray you continue to rise to your own tune as well friend. You have an amazing spirit and I pray your friend realizes that someday - but it was his choice to close the door. Not yours. ox
What a powerful bridge, your piece ( and all of them really), from where we started and this day of Thanksgiving- what a miracle to be as you say “ intact “. Love to you from me and our family, I know we will keep each other forever.
Oh we will keep each other forever. Thank you my beautiful friend ❤️ I pray your Thanksgiving was full of His love and the spirit to keep trusting that He is sovereign, mighty and faithful to the end. Our eyes are opened wide to the revelation that is coming. We love you all very much. ox
As usual, both beautiful and powerful. Love to you and your family. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thank you lovely friend ❤️
I hosted for the first time since 2019 and witnessed for the first time in 4 years how God can work if you stay the course of love, but just keep moving forward with His spirit of truth. Let go and live.
Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving too! Sending you a big hug ❤️✨😘
Good word
Thank you so much Jules! I hope you had a peaceful Thanksgiving 🍁🍂🍁😘