Balancing grief with situational awareness, my friend handled the move well. She’s thriving in her new home but moments of sadness surface occasionally.
No one questioned the timing, not even my friend because her 85-year-old body gave her no choice.
For various safety and health reasons, downsizing to a place with on-site assistance made the most sense.
As family members helped my friend make the move, Jason and I walked through the maze of boxes learning about the history of the various pieces of furniture.
She couldn’t take the majority of the items with her, but the opportunity to share about the origins — some having been passed down through several generations — seemed to be a therapeutic process.
Determination
I know it was difficult to say goodbye to so much of what had brought her comfort and connection through the years. Still, she did it with determination, boldness and grace.
Her son shared how grateful he was to know the furnishings held a special place in his mother’s heart and noted how well she had taken care of them.
Now it’s time for these pieces to bless another family and be part of another important story, he noted as he looked around the room mentally calculating where to start.
Did you catch that? Instead of putting the items in storage or adding to his and his siblings’ households, he took a practical, yet sensitive, approach.
The pieces of furniture are special to his family and most definitely provide a visual thread connecting the generations, but they decided the best way to honor the memories is to allow new ones to be made.
Memories
As we gave our friend a hug and wished her well, I whispered a prayer over her that God would grant her a rich, new season of sweet experiences and the opportunity for even more precious memories in her new home.
I also peeked in my closets to see what I might go ahead and move along to be loved by a new family.
Do you ever find yourself holding on to things for sentimental reasons? Or maybe out of a sense of obligation?
I sure do — for those two and many more reasons actually.
What about beyond household furnishings, documents, clothing and knickknacks?
Do you ever grip tightly to routines, schedules and traditions, so much so that you find yourself really upset if someone tries to change one of them?
Next steps
It can be hard, and it’s fair to acknowledge the grief over those next steps we may not want to face.
What I’m learning, however, is that if we evaluate the situation objectively, look at it from all perspectives and keep our eyes on Jesus, then we will find the strength to clear the path ourselves. We’ll also continue to have a voice at the table when decisions are being made.
Recent awards showcase much more than quality of work
It’s awards season time for those involved in faith-based professional organizations such as Baptist Communicators Association.
Your team serving The Alabama Baptist and its sister publication The Baptist Paper brought home a large number of honors this year. We’ll be sharing the specifics soon, but I wanted to let you know how proud I am of them.
They work hard every week to provide fact-based, calm coverage in our reporting. It can be quite difficult following a neutral path right now, but we strive to present the facts clearly, calmly and in proper context.
The team also spends a tremendous amount of energy looking for and telling the stories of how God is working through His people.
With all that bombards each of us every day, it is vital for our spiritual and emotional health to be consistently reminded how God is moving and to keep hope alive.
We do that for you through the pages of the paper and in a variety of platforms showcasing our online content. You’ll find these God glimpses in every issue.
Remaining tightly connected to other believers also keeps us focused and makes us stronger.
Our team is constantly finding creative ways to help you stay connected, and it’s your partnership that actually makes it work.
The recent awards highlight the excellent quality of work our team members are delivering, but even more they showcase the depth of commitment to you.
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