Year 2007

On the eve of 2008, I pondered over my life in year 2007. As I looked back I realized that I have lost many things and people dear to me. How can I then give thanks on our Thanksgiving Day on 1 Jan 2008?

Yet God reminded me that He was the One Who saw me through all my low and frustrating periods. Without Him I would have been lost myself. Yes, His grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I hardly have time to blog these days and my online blogging friends have also one by one stopped blogging. I missed them. Some have already settled down with their own family, some are about to be married, some have found their sweetheart, and with one or two still 'dangling' alone.

For me, my work is my constance companion, other than God. I know that He is all I need and I must give my all to Him. I am sure He will see me through another season of life in 2008 and make me a channel of blessings to those whom I come across like before or even more. He has seen through my 2007 season already.

I am glad to be a Christian. :)

I wish all readers of my blog a meaningful 2008!

Grieving Our Losses

Grieving Our Losses (from Today's Daily Encounter)

"Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted."
(Matthew 5:4)

When Jesus' friend, Lazarus, died, Jesus wept. When we experience loss and are sad, we need to do the same. When we bury and hide our grief, we hurt ourselves and distort reality. As Cecil Osborne wisely said, "Every unshed tear is a prism through which all of life's hurts are distorted."

In his book, Daily Affirmations for Forgiving and Moving On, Tim Dayton wrote, "If my unconscious carries a silent wound, I will always be black and blue inside. I will not be able to approach situations with open eyes for fear they will trigger that unfelt pain. The grief that I carry hidden in silence has great power over my life and my relationships.... Until I understand my grief and allow myself to know it, I will not be free of its grip."
Loss is a part of life. Grieving these is a process, not an event. There is no quick fix. Whatever emotions are involved--which can include confusion, anxiety and even anger--need to be felt, experienced and expressed in healthy ways, as well as the deep sorrow which needs to be wept or even sobbed out. Tears are God's gift to help drain the pain of deep grief and sorrow.

Furthermore, until I know how to weep with all my heart, I will never know how to love with all my heart either.

Jesus gives us a model to follow. And his words are true: "Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted."

"Suggested prayer:
"Dear God, help me to be connected to and honest with all my emotions and learn to express them in healthy, constructive ways. And help me to learn to grieve and mourn my losses and not be afraid to cry when I am truly sad. Thank you for the gift of tears as well as the gift of laughter. Help me to realize that both are equally important and healthy. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Grate fully in Jesus' name, amen."

My Reflection:

The above article reminded me of myself, my life. For a while, I seem to have no life? I have been very busy with work since May this year, and even more so during the last 2 months, to the extent that I have no time for myself and very little time for God too, except to read the bible before I sleep.

Perhaps that's a mask of grief. I realized that I didn't cry much over my loss, I didn't 'blame' anyone, I even faced the loss 'squarely' as if there isn't any pain.

Yes, can't grieve fully equals to can't love fully.... perhaps my heart has become somewhat stony? But it's a choice that I chose, I want it that way. At least I don't have to go through the cycle again and again, like what happened to the people I know. It's all chasing after the winds... except when we chase after God, the only Person who can love us fully.