When there is no encouragement and no “good”word
(I’m reposting this as this week has been all about anxiety, and my anxiety was at an all-time high during this particular time in my life which is why I’m reposting it during this series. I reread every word and haven’t changed a word because it was how I felt then and it was honest. My mother did die of dementia a few months after this, about one year ago.)
These are verses from Proverbs 12:25 taken from various Bibles.
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.
- Sometimes there are no “good” words to say.
- Sometimes there are no words of encouragement.
- Sometimes there is nothing anyone can say that helps.
- I’d like to think my faith will be strengthened, but I think it’s likely to be challenged instead.
- I’d like to think I’ll have an inspirational story to tell someday, but there’s nothing inspirational about dementia.
- I’d like to think I’ll come out on the other side of all this a better person but I worry that I won’t. I could go on……
Grace
Tomorrow grace might present itself in a book or a song. Grace has no limitations. God can use whatever vehicle he wants to send grace our way. The only thing we have to do is recognize it.
I am counting on God’s grace showering me time and again in God’s most creative ways. I am thankful today that we do indeed serve a loving and gracious God who comforts us when we are tired, angry, confused, directionless, flailing about, etc.