Grief

Like all things, grief affects us all in different ways. Some choose to bury hurt and so carry grief with them like a second skin. Others acknowledge it and over time come to terms with their loss.
Whatever we grieve for, whether its a relationship that has come to an end, a loved one who has died, a son who is no longer a child but a teenager no longer needed affection,we can struggle to cope with the loss.
When it is all three at once, it is a huge loss. In the last 12 months thats what I have been trying to cope with.
I am lucky I have friends who care and a God who is always there for me, who will always love me and who is my strength and my Saviour.

Life

Life is simple - it's just not easy.
We can't make things happen - they just ARE or they are not. I guess that's what happened early on Sunday morning, despite my excited anticipation. It wasn't just any Sunday morning though , it was Easter Sunday. I thought by getting up early to watch the sun rise with a group of friends ,the Son of God would rise too and we would embrace Easter together.

It was cold, it was early, it was misty and it was an adventure, but not as spiritual as I thought it might have been.So we went home and got on with our day. It wasn't special or moving or memorable.

Maybe for me it was a lesson too.

Me and God

Teach me to love thee as thine angels love
one Holy passion filling all my frame
The baptism of the heaven - descended Dove
my heart an altar, and thy love the flame.

Easter

A time to reflect, to revisit , remember,renew and refresh faith. To ask why , to weep, to share the pain, to acccept the gift and to appreciate the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Love.
'It is a thing most wonderful,almost too wonderful to be,
that God's own Son should come from heaven and die to save a child like me
and yet I know that it is true, he came to this poor world below,
and wept and toiled and mourned and died, only because he loved me so.' WW How

He died for me , little me! He loves me!Wow.

Holidays

Well here I sit at my pc and I AM ON HOLIDAY FROM WORK for a whole week!! The weather will of course be disappointing, given that I am off but I won't let it stop me relaxing, catching up with family and sleep and trying to unwind after several mad days at work.
So how to relax? Well walking in the fresh air helps, or driving with the roof down of my little red sports car is definately on the list. Driving always relaxes me , especially if I can find some challenging roads like I did yesterday around Derbyshire.
Relaxing the mind however is another matter.Lets hope by the end of the week I will stop worrying and just BE for a day or so. Here's praying.....

Purpose

Everyone needs a purpose , a plan, a reason for being.Its not just about us, or how much money we can make or how much chocolate we can eat in a lifetime!
It's so much bigger than that. We need to embrace the simple truth that we were made to give ourselves to a cause bigger than ourselves....a cause that increases the peace in the world... a cause, a purpose , a task that makes the world a better place.
Oxfam are one such cause that I support , that I am passionate about, that does so much to make this world a better place, for everyone. Whether its lobbying the Government about climate change, being first on the scene of any disaster, helping struggling poor communities help themselves, educating people, making a difference. So that's one cause that I support. Found yours yet?....

Palm Sunday

Its Palm Sunday and its time to celebrate. The Prince of Peace is here! Hosana!




My Lord, be a bright flame before me,
A guiding star above me,
A kindly shepherd behind me,
Today, tonight and for ever.

YOU

Why am I a Christian? This is one reason..............

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

I moulded you in the depths of the earth and knit you together in your mother's womb.

I chose you before the foundation of the world.

You are my child, made in my image.

I have called you by name, you are mine.

As a father has compassion for his child I have compassion for you and I love you as much as a mother intimately loves her child.

I know the number of the hairs on your head, the details of your life, your smile your tears, your hopes and fears. You are precious to me. Your name is written in the palm of my hand. I will never forget you. My love for you isn't based on what you have done or will do for me. I love you for who you are - the you of you.

You don't have to strive or perform for my approval.

My favour rests on you.

You are beloved.

I will never leave you or forsake you.

I will always be with you.

You are mine.

Rest in my love.

Says it all really.

Happiness

A good friend said something very profound to me a while back which I didn't understand at the time but do now.

He said ' Happiness is fleeting but peace is something worth striving for'. I have had times of happiness in my life as well as times of deep sadness. The trick is to hold on to the good times and live every moment 'in the moment' , regretting nothing. How many of us do that though? How sad it is when we attend funerals only to discover so much about that person in the Eulogy we never knew,wishing we HAD known while they were in this life.

So my first message is don't wait for this to happen or that to happen before you do something or life and happiness will surely pass you by. Live for now, love for now, and leave the rest to God.

Well Here goes!

This is the start of a whole new world for me! Finally decided to set up a blog and try to use it to unscramble any random thoughts, feelings, opinions and by doing so help me grow and keep me sane.