What to say, what to do, and what has already been said

I was completely surprised and pretty shocked by something I received when I opened my email after I got home from work last night. At 2AM you really don’t think something is going to put a smile on your face, but it DID and I am grateful. Brought joy to my heart, which mostly happens through my girls but unexpectedly I received it tonight/today. More to come later…
Lately I have kind of been in a null on blogging. I usually have a ton of things going through my head that I want to say but recently I felt that maybe I had been throwing a sort of pity party. I don’t feel my posts have been encouraging but more depressing and dull. I don’t want to be the one who harps on the same thing and talks about it over and over. The kind of person you expect what their post will be about because they are all pretty much about the same thing and it doesn’t really interest you anymore. While the reason for starting to blog was about letting my feelings out in hope of self healing. And it has slowly begun to do that and much more. I have talked to many fascinating women whose stories have also inspired me.
In short, and not to drag this post out anymore, because I know a lot of them can be wordy and long(like I said, lots of things going on in my mind).
I have come across some quotes and verses that have given me inspiration and hope this past week. I am reading the last book in the series by Stephen Ministries * the ones the church sends every few months for those who are grieving* The books go in order by what stage you could be at during your first year after your loss. Well, the last book, I don’t even know if you can really call them books because they are very short, is called Rebuilding and Remembering. Since it is coming upon the 1 year anniversary of my brother’s death in a mere 20 days. Here are a few things I read that brought some comfort which could be applied to many situation’s life has handed you.
Tests of faith, perseverance, strength, and wisdom. Things we often need to be reminded of and as hard headed as we are, embedded in our brains daily.
The opening verse is Jeremiah 31:13 “I will turn their mourning into gladness, I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” And believe me, when you are to the point where you are filled with so many different feelings you want to explode, he is there to calm your soul and give you rest.
Bob Diets in his book Life After Loss “The anniversary date of a loved one’s death is particularly significant. You will have done something you thought was impossible a few months earlier. You will have survived an entire year without someone who was as import to you as life itself.”
Henri Nouwen Heart Speaks to Heart “I trust in you Lord, but keep helping me in my many moments of distrust and doubt.”
Gary Sittser A Grace Disguised “Out of my pain, God became a living reality to me as never before.” I especially like this one! I now know we cannot fully understand how much we need him without coming to a point where you can’t live without him.
“Death changes us, the living. In the presence of death, we become more aware of life…It can inspire us to decide what really matters in life-and then to seek it” Candy Lightner Found of M.A.D.D. Giving Sorrow WordsAbraham Lincoln “The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time.”
There are many others but like I said before, wanted to keep it short. Doesn’t really look like it turned out that way. So even if you don’t have the time to read it all, maybe skim it and pick out the parts that apply to you. These all do not have to be focused on death, they can apply to any life challenge that will change us whether good or bad.