When the Loneliness Overwhelms..

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Though words may seem so little, I hope, in some small way,

That what I say may ease the pain Of the loss you feel today.

Hold fast to all your memories That you cherish from the past:

The blessings and the laughter, And the sorrows along life’s path.

For these are precious treasures— The GOLD of your yesterdays.

They are memories that only the two of you shared.

Keep them safely stored away. The special moments in your life

That you and your loved one shared

Are ever locked within your heart. And forever, they’ll be there.

© Helen Dowd (used by permission)

Prayer- Father God, thank you for giving us the gold of yesterdays. Amen.

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I Call Shotgun by Tommy Newberry and Curt Beavers

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I Call Shotgun by Tommy Newberry and Curt Beavers

I don’t often choose ‘man’ books to read but this one appealed to me because of the sub title, Lessons from Dad for navigating the Roads of life.

This book is organized in a short easy-to- read letters to son format. There is information in these 64 letters that would apply to all of us.

The titles include things like Do Courageous Things, Value Your Time, Seek God first Every day, Be Aware of 80/20 thinking and so many more.

Who wouldn’t want to Expect the Best, Act with Intelligence and Cultivate Life Long Integrity? The authors come highly recommended and the book is dedicated to all dads who are committed to raising and influencing high-character young men.

I know they specifically wanted to target young men but honestly this information applies across the board in so many ways. Perhaps there is a sequel for young ladies!  Something called “I protect petticoats!”

I got this book from Book Sneeze in exchange for a fair and honest review. I do like the book and will pass it on to  other fellows to share with their sons…

Brenda J Wood

www.heartfeltdevotionals.com

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Should you go first and I remain,

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Should you go first and I remain, to walk the road alone
I’ll live in memory’s garden dear, with happy days we’ve known.
In spring I’ll wait for roses red, when fades the lilacs bloom
And in early fall when brown leaves fall, I’ll catch a glimpse of you.
 Should you go first and I remain, For battles to be fought
 Each thing you’ve touched along the way, will be a hallowed spot.
I’ll hear your voice. I’ll see your smile though blindly I may grope
 The memory of your helping hand, will buoy me on with hope.
Should you go first and I remain, to finish with the scroll
No lessening shadows shall ever creep in to make this life seem droll.
We’ve known so much of happiness, we’ve had our cup of joy
 And memory is one gift of God, that death cannot destroy
 I want to know each step you take, that I may walk the same
For someday down that lonely road, you’ll hear me call your name
Should you go first and I remain, one thing I’ll have you do
Walk slowly down that long long path, for someday I’ll follow you
(chorus)
Beyond the sunset Oh blissful morning When with our savior, Heaven is begun
Earth’s toiling ended, Oh glorious dawning Beyond the sunset When day is done
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Walk On

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This is the wedding song I choose. Somehow I recognized even then, that all would be well if only I was with my Ron. We had storms and dark and wind and rain and broken dreams but we never walked alone.

When you walk through a storm hold your head up high and don’t be afraid of the dark.

At the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of the lark.
Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain, though your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on walk on with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone. You’ll never walk alone.(by Rogers and Hammerstein)

So last night I was thinking how that song still comforts me. Then this morning, I clicked on a website and immediately the song sprang up in my ears. What a gift from God!

Why do you think hundreds of artists recorded this song? Because even when your earthly self is alone…you are never ever really alone.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b, NIV)

Can I hear  three cheers for God!!  AMEN!!

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book review-Grieving God’s Way by Margaret Brownley

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Grieving God’s Way by Margaret Brownley

 

I held off reading this book for several months because I was writing my own book on grief,

‘The Pregnant Pause of Grief, the first trimester of widowhood.’  Interestingly, her book format covers ninety days and my book covers 3 months. In this space of time, it seems we learn our hardest lessons, the ones that help us cope for the next decades.

 

While I lost my husband and Ms. Brownley lost her son, our grief is very similar.

 

I’ll mention just a few.

God can and will meet our needs

Nothing tastes better than carbs when you are miserable.

Accept depression as part of the grief.

Treat yourself with as much care as you would another person.

I don’t know if it is correct to say I enjoyed this book, but I certainly found it helpful. I would recommend it to any one who is suffering loss.

Brenda J Wood

http://heartfeltdevotionals.com

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Funny Phrases

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An araprosdokian is a sentence with a surprisingly funny turn of phrase.  Here are some examples.

I know a tomato is a fruit but I’m not serving it with whipped cream.

Where there’s a will, write my name in it with the rest of the relatives.

Change is inevitable, except in Canadian pennies.

I thought I’d travel but all I got is a work station.

Here is a famous Winston Churchill Araprosdokian: I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter.

Did you ever think that maybe that’s why some of us live so long?

Prayer- Lord, as we get ready to meet you face-to face, help us build ourselves up in faith, pray and keep ourselves in your love, all the while, patiently waiting till you call us into eternal life. (from Jude 1:20-21, AMP)

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Your Favourite Sandwich?

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Blogger Belinda Burston is a great fan of Victoria Sandwich Cake . So here is the question for you today. What is your favourite cake or for that matter your favourite sandwich? Share won’t you?

The Message Bible offers up 25 verses including the word sandwich. The Amplified Bible lists 40 verses mentioning cakes, every kind from barley to date and raisin but no sandwiches !

1 Chronicles 16:3

And he distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.
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The Pregnant Pause of Grief, by Brenda J. Wood is an emotional and honest look at widowhood.

After losing her husband to cancer, the author began to chronicle her thoughts and experiences of what she was going through. She begins with the statement, “By the end of this month, I expect to know my own name.” This sets the tone of the book and guides the reader along with the author on her journey to self-discovery. The result is a book that will bring much comfort to anyone who has lost a spouse – widow or widower.

Mixed with just the right infusion of humour, the author holds nothing back. Her emotions are raw in the face of her loss, yet her hope and her foundation for not losing herself to uncontrollable grief, is her faith in Jesus Christ. While we learn about the tender love affair she had with her husband Ron, we also learn about her love affair with God. Together they made a complete unit. God, Ron and Brenda. Now, as she adjusts to “just Brenda and God,” she learns why grieving is a good thing. At the same time, she also learns how to surrender to God each day and moment as she adjusts to the new title of “widow”.

Now you might think that this book should be read only by widows and widowers. Nothing could be further from the truth. There were many times when her words of wisdom, the scriptures she shared, and her own life experiences resonated with me, even though I deal with physical pain, not emotional.

If you have experienced loss of any kind, I would advise you to pick up this book. I only wish it had been around for my mother in-law after her husband died. She cried for his loss until the day she died, two years almost to the day of his passing. If I had this fabulous little book in my hand, I might have known what to say or do (or not do) and I know it would have brought her comfort to know that her tears were perfectly normal. She was always apologizing for them.

This book needs to be in every doctor‘s office, funeral home and church and  you can purchase it here in our bookstore. You won’t regret it! I give it 5/5 stars

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