My heart hurts so, friends.
I lost an old friend last week. Her passion in life was to always help others. Broken people know what it feels like to hurt, and they desperately seek to soften the blows of life for others.
Until they break all the way.
My mind went to some pretty dark places… Did I miss my breaking point? Why haven’t I given up yet? What on earth was I still doing here, when so many amazing people have left?
Mike told me that I – we – are brave. Strong.
I haven’t felt strong, or brave, the past few days.
I feel lost.
A few days ago, I missed our Motivate Monday post. I had none to give. Mike had to come home early from work, and he sat over me while I cried some more.
I talked with a friend this morning, and she too told me I’m strong. And I am, because I haven’t given up. I’ve been through my share of pain, and while it may put some dents here and there, I’m still standing.
Sometimes, not quitting is being brave.
Not succumbing to the darkness is strength.
How can you be brave when you feel broken?
By not giving up.
Sometimes, friends, we need to just be.
Spending a few days in bed crying isn’t giving up, it’s feeling all of those feelings and sorting out which ones need to stay and which ones need to go.
Having cereal for dinner isn’t quitting. It’s surviving.
It’s okay to do the bare minimum, or even nothing at all while someone else in your life leans in and steps up.
It’s okay to take a breath and heal.
We choose to do whatever it is that we need to do to just survive, and sometimes that might look like nothing as we fight to not give in to the battle waging in our mind. Sometimes it takes all the strength we have to not quit.
Be brave, friends. We have this one life, and we need to treasure it and tend to it. Beauty can come from broken things if we look hard enough.
Life is what we make it. If we choose to look for broken things, then that’s what we will be left with. If we choose to sift the beauty from the ashes, then that is what we will be surrounded with.
I pray you choose to find the good in life.
I am thankful for all the people in my life who love me and support me, and I am so grateful for a husband who will watch over me as my heart heals. I am thankful he knows how to find the beauty in life, and place his focus and strength there.