Within Grace

writing with love

In the Face of Adversity January 31, 2013

Filed under: writings — Within Grace @ 6:24 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Most of us have faced adversity, some more than others, but hopefully what we learned, how we chose to overcome, the compassion we gained, and the experience we lived through inspired us enough to not give up.

I struggle, a lot, and I’m doing my best not to give up. To remain hopeful in God. To stay focused on my growth, not stuck in the pain. I trust God is in my difficult situations just as He is in my blessings. I’m practicing trust, honesty, and forgiveness, but I am struggling.

Once I get past this, and am able to move forward in my journey, I pray I’ll be able to look back at my difficulties and be grateful for how far I’ve come.

Willingness. Acceptance. Healing. Growth. Change. This has been a very powerful journey for me, probably the most dynamic adversity I’ve yet to face. And God willing, the most significant blessing to my life.

©2013 All rights reserved.

 

Pain, the Price of Freedom September 8, 2012

Filed under: writings — Within Grace @ 6:38 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

I started reading this book ‘The Untethered Soul’, which has been helping me deal with, not run away from, the loss of several significant relationships in the past year (my brother, dad, husband, best friend, boyfriend, and the recent death of my 12 year old pet cat).

Today I prayerfully read chapter 11 ‘Pain, the Price of Freedom’ through tears, and this is what it taught me…
I must become familiar with pain in order to grow. If I’m doing things to avoid pain, then pain is actually running my life; all my thoughts and feelings will be affected by my fears. Hiding the pain, or pushing it away, will only hinder my growth, my healing. On the other side of pain is ecstasy, is freedom.

After I read this chapter I prayed again, with loving kindness I allowed myself to feel the great depths of pain, then I released it to the care of my heavenly Father. I immediately felt the heaviness of that pain lifted. I recognized the sadness I was feeling, but it no longer identified me nor dictated my actions for the rest of today. I felt a small bit of this freedom, of peace, and I felt a deeper connection to God.

I’m so very grateful for the many people I have in my life today that encourage me to grow, make difficult decisions, and stand by my side. I feel your love, support, and prayers. I am uplifted, enlightened, and awake to this very powerful and important spiritual journey. Thank you for doing service to the Father and helping me change for the better. I love who I’m becoming and I love you for accepting all of me.

“The Untethered Soul: the journey beyond yourself by Michael A. Singer”

© LR 2012

 

True Love September 4, 2012

Filed under: writings — Within Grace @ 5:52 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Reading 1 John today, I’m reminded of the great love of God and His simple commands.

The passage about Walking in the Light has me prayerfully asking God to continue saturating me in His light, ever removing my heart from living in blind darkness. The passage on Loving One Another further instills my belief of my natural ability to love and my strong desire to love as Christ loves.

Sometimes, I get caught up in this world and it wears on my spirit, but studying readings like this reminds me that I am not of this world and the one who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Despite my many struggles, fears, heartache and weaknesses, God continues to remind me that He is here, with me, ready to carry my burdens as I allow. He loves me, regardless of my sins, and wants to breathe new life in me through His Son. I’m not afraid because, there is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear (1 John4:18).

© LR 2012

 

The Promise August 30, 2012

Filed under: writings — Within Grace @ 8:17 am
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

With all of my heart I want to experience peace, joy, serenity, happiness, gratitude, comfort, kindness, and forgiveness. I fully understand & accept that this can only be accomplished with the help and guidance of my heavenly Father, Christ Jesus my King.

This very moment I empty my heart & mind of worldly ideals and focus on the truth of His holy word. I will be full. I will be whole. I will embrace this gift of change & transition and stop resisting my journey. With loving kindness I move forward into the unknown, releasing fears of the known, and relinquishing false control over my life.

Lord God, I fall at your feet in complete surrender to your total care & protection. I want the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!

© LR 2012

 

Like I Loved You July 31, 2012

Filed under: writings — Within Grace @ 9:22 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

At times like tonight, when I miss you so very much and my heart aches without you, I write and hope you’re out there, somewhere, reading my thoughts.

No matter how logically I can see that we weren’t meant to be, I still want you in my life.

I’m so in love, and so blind, and all I want is for you to love me too.

Tears stream from my eyes tonight; I need you here to comfort me.

Yesterday was a rough day and I want you to hold me, kiss me, tell me we’ll get through this together.

Why did you leave? Yet I’m so grateful you did; I hate that I see the positive in this change.

I want you back, that’s the truth, but I could never allow it, and that breaks my heart all over again.

I earnestly pray away my love for you, asking God to fulfill me in more satisfying ways.

Come to me in my dreams, release me from loving you.

Be kind, compassionate, and tender, and allow me to run towards what’s best for me.

Don’t be angry, or judgmental, or rude, just love me like I once loved you.

© LR 2012

 

Road Trip July 20, 2012

Filed under: writings — Within Grace @ 12:39 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Dear family & friends, My life is currently undergoing a remodel. My heart will remain open during this reconstruction process. Please excuse the emotional mess; pardon the dust from my spiritual growth. The outcome will be a more beautiful and stable soul, which I look forward to sharing with you. Thank you for your patience. enlightened #roadtrip to Northern #California. Word #art through #photography and #poetry.
© LR 2012

 

No More Secrets, No More Lies June 14, 2012

Filed under: writings — Within Grace @ 9:32 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

8:41pm Thursday 6/14/2012 Redondo Beach, Ca

Where do I begin… not from the comfort of my own home, as I’m currently living with my mother (eh hem, mooching off my mother). I left my home on October 17, 2011 when I also left my husband of 12 years. On August 25, 2012 our 17 year 4 month 4 day relationship will legally be over.

I stopped abusing alcohol and drugs this year. It’s been about 80 days since I last smoked marijuana and as of last week 60 days without drinking; however, over this past weekend I had a glass of wine, because ‘I had a bad day and deserved it’ (pppfffttt! I call bullshit!) So now I have only a few days sober, but I’m happy with that because the truth is, I could very well be drunk right now. I went to AA tonight, simply because I couldn’t stand to be alone for one more second.

My loneliness has been a major problem for me recently. I’ve never spent this much time alone in my nearly 32 years of life and I really hate being lonely. It doesn’t help that I’m not working at the moment (haven’t had steady work since May 2010, been collecting unemployment until this past Spring), so I spend about 12+ hours alone, everyday, and usually at home doing nothing productive; unless you consider crying, feeling sorry for myself, watching Will & Grace, and eating chocolate being productive.

Tonight I really needed to write. Not poetry or tweets or anything to anyone specific. I just needed to write truth, honesty, to and for myself. If you read this post I kindly ask that you do not “like” it. This one, just this one, is for me. Not for any acclaim, likes, follows, or such. This is to expose my truth. My secrets. My dysfunctional emotional state of depression, constant depression, despair and sorrow. My happiness has fled and I’m in the process of reclaiming it. It has been a really rough battle. Each “break-down” seems worse than the one before. Each “break-up” seems more of a loss than ever imagined. Each day seems more of a hassle than it’s worth. For the first time in my life, I’m suicidal. I want to die. I’m tired of feeling. I’m tired of being sad. I’ve given up hope. And all I formerly used to numb, to cope (drugs, alcohol, food, etc.) isn’t working; in fact they’re only making matters worse.

Yet something keeps me going. The only way I can explain it is, it’s God. Despite my many failures and fuck-ups, He’s not finished with me yet. A friend said to me today, “God makes some of us stronger than others for a reason.” At this point, I feel I don’t care what the reason is, it doesn’t seem worth it to me. And I didn’t sign up for this anyway!… or did I? All those years I spent praying, asking God for His will in my life. Although I can’t imagine pain, sadness, rejection, abandonment, despair, hurt, anger, guilt, shame, and hopelessness would be His will for me.

I don’t know, now I feel as if I’m rambling and if anyone is still reading, they’re probably more fucked-up than I am or feel sorry for this poor 32 year-old white girl, who lives at the beach in Southern California, drives a car that’s paid for, has a small amount of debt, has just been accepted into a certification program at a top University, has a loving and supportive mother who is happy to care for her during this “rough patch”, and is for the most part healthy (although being 50 lbs overweight is not considered “healthy” these days).

I guess I’ll end this just as I started it, not really knowing what to say. Tomorrow will hopefully be a better day. Perhaps my soul will heal a bit tonight as I sleep. When I wake, God could have miraculously solved all my problems and contentment would be my new-found position in life. Either way, I’ll likely write again tomorrow. Slowly piecing together the fragmented bits of my mind, heart, and soul… one day at a time.

© LR 2012

 

 

 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 202 other followers

%d bloggers like this: