From an article about motherhood...
But now I'm realizing more and more that just because something's a huge blessing doesn't mean it's easy.
But that's just what I'm learning - that some of life's most amazing blessings also bring our greatest struggles.
I started this blog soon after the death of my beautiful 17-year-old son, Hayden, as a way to deal with my grief. I titled it "Dear Hayden" because at first I wrote as if I was writing to him. My use of the word "dear" ended up being twofold: "used as an affectionate or friendly form of address" and "regarded with deep affection; cherished by someone." Many posts are saved quotes, song lyrics, Bible verses, poems, etc. with credit given to the actual authors as much as possible. Enjoy~
Friday, September 27, 2019
Tired
She believed she could but she was tired
...so she rested and you know what?
the world went on and it was okay.
She knew she could try again tomorrow.
...so she rested and you know what?
the world went on and it was okay.
She knew she could try again tomorrow.
From experience
Someone said, "Don't be afraid to start over again. This time, you are not starting from scratch, you are starting from experience."
The more you approve
The more you approve of your own decisions in life, the less you feel the need to have them approved or accepted by others.
from Flying Free
I think it's hard for survivors who are women of faith to make decisions. It's scary at first. We were taught that our authority should make all the decisions for our lives. We were taught that this was God's plan.
That was a propaganda lie taught by...guess who?
God didn't create you as a puppet and hand your strings to someone else. He created you a human being in His likeness, gave you His Spirit, and told you to rule your sphere of influence as a Christ-following queen.
Now go do that.
Seek first
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Also glory in
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Romans 5:3-4
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope.
Romans 5:3-4
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Healed
When you can tell your story and it doesn't make you cry,
that's when you know you've healed.
that's when you know you've healed.
Wrong and right
by Saint Augustine
Wrong is wrong even
if everyone is doing it.
Right is right even if
no one is doing it.
Wrong is wrong even
if everyone is doing it.
Right is right even if
no one is doing it.
Don't quit
Don't Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low and the debts are high;
And you want to smile but you have to sigh.
When all is pressing you down a bit~
Rest if you must, but don't you quit
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint on the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are;
It may be near when it seems far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.
-John Greenleaf Whittier
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low and the debts are high;
And you want to smile but you have to sigh.
When all is pressing you down a bit~
Rest if you must, but don't you quit
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint on the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are;
It may be near when it seems far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.
-John Greenleaf Whittier
People ruin
by Kahlil Gibran
Travel and tell no one.
Live a true love story and tell no one.
Live happily and tell no one.
People ruin beautiful things.
Travel and tell no one.
Live a true love story and tell no one.
Live happily and tell no one.
People ruin beautiful things.
Have to care
To make a difference
in someone's life, you
don't have to be brilliant,
rich, beautiful, or perfect.
You just have to care.
in someone's life, you
don't have to be brilliant,
rich, beautiful, or perfect.
You just have to care.
Start over
So worth repeating every time
Start over, my darling.
Be brave enough to find the
life you want and courageous
enough to chase it. Then start
over and love yourself the
way you were always
meant to.
-Madalyn Beck
Start over, my darling.
Be brave enough to find the
life you want and courageous
enough to chase it. Then start
over and love yourself the
way you were always
meant to.
-Madalyn Beck
Move mountains
A man who wants to make a relationship work will move mountains to keep the woman he loves.
Anxiety
Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once.
Breathe. You're strong. You got this.
-Karen Salmanzohn
Breathe. You're strong. You got this.
-Karen Salmanzohn
Someday someone
Someday someone is going to look at you with a light in their eyes you've never seen, they'll look at you like you're everything they've been looking for their entire lives. Wait for it.
Full of
The problem with
the world is that
the intelligent people
are full of doubt, while
the stupid people
are full of confidence.
the world is that
the intelligent people
are full of doubt, while
the stupid people
are full of confidence.
God knows
Good reminder
God knows
Exactly what you need.
Who you need.
How much you need.
When you need it.
Trust Him.
God knows
Exactly what you need.
Who you need.
How much you need.
When you need it.
Trust Him.
More blessed
From Daily Bible Verse calendar
Acts 20:35
I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:35
I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Heavenly vs. demonic wisdom
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
James 3:13
Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
James 3:13
Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
God is love
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
1 John 4:16
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:16
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
His truths
The devil wants you to pay attention to your feelings,
Jesus wants you to pay attention to His truths.
Jesus wants you to pay attention to His truths.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
The help
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
(As you recall, I also love it when a Bible verse has its own little "title")
Psalm 12:1-2
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him, A Song of Ascent
I will lift up my eyes to the hills,
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
(As you recall, I also love it when a Bible verse has its own little "title")
Psalm 12:1-2
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him, A Song of Ascent
I will lift up my eyes to the hills,
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Rejoice
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
(If you recall, I love Bible verses with exclamation points!)
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again I will say, rejoice!
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Love yourself
You don't have to "love yourself" first in order to be worthy of love in return.
You are worthy of being loved, of being safe and well-cared for regardless of
how you feel about yourself.
You are worthy of being loved, of being safe and well-cared for regardless of
how you feel about yourself.
Stop
by Tony Robbins
Stop being afraid
of what can go wrong.
Start being excited about
what can go right.
Stop being afraid
of what can go wrong.
Start being excited about
what can go right.
Old age
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age,
I am He,
And even to gray hairs
I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry,
And will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age,
I am He,
And even to gray hairs
I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry,
And will deliver you.
Awesome things
by Toby Mac
Awesome things will happen today if you choose not to be a miserable cow.
Awesome things will happen today if you choose not to be a miserable cow.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Land of uprightness
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God,
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of the uprightness.
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God,
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of the uprightness.
Friday, September 6, 2019
Strong?
Strong?
No, my dear,
I am far from it.
What you're seeing
is simply
a weak person
with a very
strong
God.
No, my dear,
I am far from it.
What you're seeing
is simply
a weak person
with a very
strong
God.
The dead shall live
Isaiah 21:19
Your dead shall live;
Together with my dead body they shall arise.
Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;
For your dew is like the dew of herbs,
And the earth shall cast out the dead.
Your dead shall live;
Together with my dead body they shall arise.
Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;
For your dew is like the dew of herbs,
And the earth shall cast out the dead.
The broken
by Zachry K. Douglas
The broken will always be able to love harder than most.
Once you have been in the dark, you learn to appreciate everything that shines.
The broken will always be able to love harder than most.
Once you have been in the dark, you learn to appreciate everything that shines.
Write it
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
He said, "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays."
He said, "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays."
Healing
by Toby Mac
HEALING TAKES TIME.
There is a reason the Lord
waited 22 years to reunite Joseph
and his brothers.
THE LESSONS WERE FOUND
IN THE WAITING.
HEALING TAKES TIME.
There is a reason the Lord
waited 22 years to reunite Joseph
and his brothers.
THE LESSONS WERE FOUND
IN THE WAITING.
Keep My word
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
Trauma response
From one of the child loss sites
Feeling the need to
be busy all the time
is a trauma
response
and fear-based
distraction
from what
you'd be forced to
acknowledge and fear
if you slowed down.
My translation of this: Weekends
Feeling the need to
be busy all the time
is a trauma
response
and fear-based
distraction
from what
you'd be forced to
acknowledge and fear
if you slowed down.
My translation of this: Weekends
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Be loyal
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
2 Timothy 1:13-14
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
2 Timothy 1:13-14
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
Your Redeemer
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Isaiah 48:17
Thus says the Lord,
Your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:
"I am the Lord your God,
Who teaches you to profit,
Who leads you by the way you should go."
Isaiah 48:17
Thus says the Lord,
Your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:
"I am the Lord your God,
Who teaches you to profit,
Who leads you by the way you should go."
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Hear His voice
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Psalm 95:6-7
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you will hear His voice.
Psalm 95:6-7
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you will hear His voice.
Fellow citizens
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Ephesians 2:19
Christ Our Cornerstone
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Ephesians 2:19
Christ Our Cornerstone
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.