One of the lessons I had to learn from depression and grief is that just because I am going through a difficult time, it doesn't mean that God has abandoned me or doesn't love me. God kept reminding me that He is my Abba, my Father, and that parents have to make decisions for their kids that make them unhappy sometimes. But we make those decisions because we love them and know it is best for them in the long run. So, the lesson learned - God allows difficult things in our lives not because He doesn't love us, but because He does love us and has a purpose in everything that comes our way. And He is right there watching over us the whole time.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might, He increases power. Isaiah 40:28-29
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Depression tends to return to those who have experienced it. That thought is depressing... But, there is hope! An article found on family.org was so encouraging that I want to share some of the information with you. It is titled, "The Weapon That Depresses Depression," and is written by Mark Sutton and Bruce Hennigan, M.D.. They suggest that there are cycles of depression. Some people are surprised when it returns and other people can see it coming. The key is how you handle depression when you realize it's back.
Perseverance. After faith, it's the strongest weapon we have with which to fight depression. It helps us break a deadly cycle of which we may not even be aware. And breaking that cycle produces some positive side effects: new, powerful habits that actually act as our allies.
The authors go on to state that many people just give up when they realize they are depressed again and let their depression control their emotions, giving way to black moods and doubt while waiting for the depression to go away. But they suggest that there is a way to break that cycle and that you can actually have control over your depression.
You simply tell depression: "I'm never giving up or giving in to you. You may continue to plague me, but I'll fight you with everything I've got... The process of deciding to fight depression, even when you don't feel like doing so, begins to give you more control over your emotions and helps you no longer feel like a victim.
(God) blesses you every time you get knocked down by depression and then get up, still trusting God and still willing to live for him. Looked at in this way, depression does not make you a failure. Instead, it makes you a strong Christian and a winner in God's eyes.
I can tell you that since I read that article, I have practiced perseverance. And it works, praise God!
Crafts
This is another 2-page spread from my mom's grief journal.
On most of the pages I used scrapbook paper and pages from an old hymnal as a foundation, used a brayer to layer paint over the paper, then used an ink pad to "age" the pages. The pages were embellished with stamps, stickers and rub-on letters. I recommend when working on a project like this, to use an extra strength glue stick when gluing the foundation paper down.
Today's Recipe - Roasted Vegetable Soup
Eating Well For Optimum Health - Dr. Andrew Weil
3 large carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
3 stalks celery, trimmed and roughly cut
1 large onion, roughly cut
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
8 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
4 cups water
1/4 cup dried mushroom pieces (Italian porcini, if possible)
1/4 tsp dried thyme
salt and black or red pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 500F. Place the carrots, celery, and onion in a small (8x8) pan with the olive oil. Toss to coat the vegetables. Bake for 10 minutes.
Remove pan from oven, add the garlic and toss again. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are browned.
Remove pan from oven, add 1 cup of water and stir to loosen any vegetables that may be stuck. Pour this into a pot with the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Season to taste with salt and black or red pepper, and serve or use as the base for other soups, stews, or pasta dishes. Makes 4 servings - 239 calories per serving.
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