A Personal Reflection
Last weekend was Mother’s Day here in the USA and my birthday, and also my daughter’s birthday. One of my dreams has been to celebrate those special days at my favorite beach with my family. This year my dream came true.
One request my daughter had was to make shell mobiles. Of course I said yes. I had done that with one of her daughters on a previous beach trip with my dear friend and her grandkids. It was loads of fun and the mobile still hangs in the kids’ room.
Over the next few days we spent hours on the beach. I noticed my granddaughters would pick up and carry MANY shell pieces, pointing out the beauty of the color and texture etc. With bags and buckets filled with as many shell pieces as could be carried, we made our way back to the patio to build mobiles out of driftwood, string, wire, glue and shells.
As we sat down to build I noticed something different. The broken pieces were mostly ignored except where they could be easily strung to hang from a mobile. The whole shells were selected and made special by the adding them to structure of the mobiles.
After the children left to go home, I cleaned up the remains of the shells, filling two bags of broken shells. Reflecting on the weekend, which was beautiful in every way, I looked at the shells in the bags and decided to return them to the sand and surf. Carrying them to the beach, I thought of the many broken pieces of heartache and hurt gathered from the beach of my life that I had carried home to my heart.
I have had my share of hard relationships, losses, and disappointments, and it would not be accurate to say all my family relationships are joyful like the ones shared this past weekend. The hurts seemed like broken shells and I have the choice of what to do with them. I can carry them or let them go.
As a symbolic act, I poured out the broken shells onto the sand releasing my wounds, losses, and disappointments. Released to the beach they now can break down with the tides and sand, adding to the foundation instead of being carried as a burden.
Then I strolled down to the edge of the ocean, taking in its vastness, beauty and power. Moved in my spirit, I surrendered the difficult relationships and losses to my Father and Great Creator who made all, knows all and loves immensely. A sense of freedom, worship and gratitude washed over me.
With joy I am thanking the Lord for the precious gifts of life I have, and am celebrating the good memories made.
Who knows? Maybe some of the broken relationships will return from the sea of life, and be made new.
God knows and I trust Him to do His good work in me and in others.
I am Choosing Wholeness
Romans 12:18 NIV
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
If it’s not possible, God can still give peace to our souls.
Be comforted & blessed!
Valerie
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