22 Comments
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Michael B. Morgan's avatar

Such a nice piece, Deb. Thanks for sharing.

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

A hard one. Thank you friend 🙏🏻 ox

Jamie Millard's avatar

Beautiful poetry and beautiful message Deb. Thanks! 🙏 ❤️

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

Ahhh thank you friend. Felt my heart bared naked - but necessary on the journey. I know you know. oxox

Charles R. Jarvis's avatar

John 16:33 I have told you these things that you may have peace. The world will give you tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world.

Great writing, Deborah.

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

Dear Charles, this means so much. Hard, raw, truth. The toughest thing to express. But He has overcome this world (thank you) and we press on with our purpose - despite the sadness. Despite the sacrifice. Always carrying faith, hope and love that the fire and torment of others will eventually turn around. We can’t go down with it. In the end it will be all beauty. I hope.

oxox

C.J. Heck's avatar

Deborah, this is so powerful! It's full of feelings and answers to not allowing fear to control us. A poignant post! I've missed your energy and your love.

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

Thank you so much friend. The hardest thing to grow through and write is real, raw honest stuff.

I pray beauty for ashes every day. We keep going no matter the sadness, no matter the sacrifice. We love with nowhere for it to land at times and we hope. Fledglings are in the hearts of many. oxox

C.J. Heck's avatar

Couldn’t have said it any better myself, Deborah. You are welcome!

Wendy Elizabeth Williams's avatar

Bless you, Deborah, always deep and intense here. I am intimately familiar with "holding on by thread." Home is where I want to be, now more than ever. Holding God's hand. W.E.W.

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

And bless you Wendy, my friend. We are all holding onto something. Whether it’s our own personal struggles or that of others we love - the load can be too heavy. So, as C.S. Lewis says, “Aim at heaven.”

Love you. Thank you.

ox

Wendy Elizabeth Williams's avatar

“Aim at heaven”…indeed. Exactly where I aim. Blessings, dear Deb. W.E.W.

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

Every single day 🙏🏻😘

Ken Macko's avatar

Do you ever wonder if He gets disappointed in what He created ?

Or is this about the challenging hurdles needed to justify salvation?

Ken Macko's avatar

💡silly me !

It’s all about suffering. Jesus suffered and endured. And so shall we.

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

I feel like I have to remind myself of this quite often!! (and you're most definitely not silly!!) 😘

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

The shortest sentence in the Bible is “Jesus wept.” He cried over his dear friend Lazarus dying, although he knew he would rise again — or come out of that season of death. It’s like we have all these hard seasons and He knows that if we can pursue hope, faith, a commitment to our Savior, then we can come out of these seasons. He is right there with us. He never wanted us to suffer, but by His suffering, we learn that with suffering is also learning, growing, trying to mend, get well, adapt, live a purpose with what we have been given, etc., a life renewed despite of our afflictions. Some afflictions, illnesses never mend. They are part of us and we have to live for something greater with them. Not set everything on fire.

Great question friend. Thank you. ox

Jackie's Bubbles's avatar

Wow, that brought tears to my eyes, I'm in one of those seasons right now, this hit me big time, you think you are alone but your not, he is close by but we withdraw into ourselves to morn, he is just waiting for us to ask for help. Help me Jesus, is all it takes, but it is still a lonely road. Thank you for this. We lost our daughter on Dec 14th, went to sleep and never woke up. She passed a day before her 57 birthday.

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

Oh Jackie, I am so terribly sorry to hear this :( When you lose someone “suddenly” I think it’s so shocking to the system that it takes a long time to process what happened. Don’t beat yourself up. He calls us to the wilderness in these times to sit with Him alone. And grief is different for everyone. Your husband might be in a different place to you. Men experience more anger and get consumed protecting everyone else, so they break later.

While the rest of the world keeps going it’s really hard to be in this place of loss — but I know He’s right there with you and there’s no correct way to go through this. I remember a pastor once said the simplest prayer, when you have nothing and just feel consumed and overwhelmed, is “help me, help them.” Or help me, help him (your husband). I will pray a hedge of protection around you and your family. That your health remains strong and that you stay safe during this hard time. I am so sorry for your loss. May your daughter’s memory be a blessing.

Sending you a bug hug and lot of love. deb. ox

Jackie's Bubbles's avatar

Thank you SO very much, didn’t see this one coming, Jennifer and I used to talk about growing old together, she was going to move up here when she got old. Oh well sometimes thing don’t work out the way we planned. Thank you again.

Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

I am so very sorry. We lost John’s brother and best friend a year ago, suddenly — and it’s so strange knowing he’s not here anymore. Today our sister-in-law delivered the most beautiful digital photo album that her friend made dedicated to “Mike.” She made several copies and it’s a treasure. She used an online company. Very cathartic.

ox

Shashue Monrauch's avatar

Intense! 💙