This place.

I have been thinking a lot about my journey through life and how I came to be where I am today. I've been thinking of my blessings but also my struggles which have all worked to bring me to this place. 

This place of healing, this place of joy, this place of doubt, this place of struggle, this place of sanctuary.

As a couple and as a family we have endured hardship. We have dealt with sickness and loss of income. We have struggled with mental health issues and we have dealt with betrayal and abandonment from those we trusted and loved. We have suffered many losses, due to circumstances beyond our control we needed to leave a place we called home for many years. 

It was hard. It took courage. It demanded lots from us. I have seen sorrow. I have felt angry and disappointed. But we did not give up or give in, we have fought and are still fighting for a good, purposeful life.  A life of love and generosity and kindness.

We have lost trust in some people but not in our Father, our God who continues to nurture and care for us. We see it in little things. We have felt the touch of His hand and know that even though we don't know why tough things have come our way, He has never abandoned us.
We have received good things from His hands..

We have the constant support of good and faithful friends and loving family. We have a delightful little grandson whom we treasure. We have this beautiful place to call home. A garden to work in and enjoy. We have enough. We are enough. He is enough.

I am in the process of healing. I am not there yet. I am learning to forgive those who wronged us and hurt us. I am not there yet. I am taking each day as it comes and I choose thankfulness and gratitude as a way of life.
I choose to see the beauty in the world, in my own small part of the world. I choose to move forward in grace and show grace to my fellow travelers on  life's journey. Because we have all had difficult things to deal with. Our stories are not that different. The details may vary but we are all in need of grace and patience and kindness.

 Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage

 and makes us strong again.” 

― Anne Frank

“Courage doesn't always roar.

 Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day 

that says I'll try again tomorrow.”

― Mary Anne Radmacher

“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and 

always one more time.” 

― Maya Angelou