Making Room

I shared with a friend yesterday that sometimes my grief seems unimportant because of all that we are experiencing right now—a global pandemic, social outcry and unrest, etc. She reminded me that we needed to make space to grieve our own losses. I know this is essential and yet the reminder was like a salve for my soul. I needed to unplug and thankfully, moving gave me a small break. I even spent time working on my plants with another friend. They had become too cramped. They needed room to grow and to be pruned. Thankfully, my friend is deft at gardening and came prepared to save my plants—she even brought me potting soil! 

This morning, as I added more soil to a Peace lily I received when Kelyn passed, I
chuckled as I thought about how much happier it seemed. Its leaves opened up in its new pot and look like they have always been housed in this bigger pot. Like this plant, I look forward to giving myself more room—to grow, to be pruned, to be watered, to grieve, to cry, to feel, to process, to be happy. I am making space to just be. 

As I gaze at this plant, I am reminded of this scripture in Isaiah 61:2-3:
[God will] comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve...[He will] bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning...[we will be] a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah‬ ‭61:2-3‬‬)

If you have been feeling like I have, I am declaring this scripture over you too. Let’s make room. May God give us beauty for our ashes. 

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