It seems like lately I've been going through trials, my whole family actually, My Aunt dying, drama with people around me, and then just this past week God has been pouring his blessings out on my family and showing them to me. My Dad having the opportunity to lead some one to the Lord, members of our church blessed by their house not catching on fire and has allowed my family to have good ole family time. God has allowed me to count my blessings and appreciate little things. My Great Aunt didn't have to suffer any longer, the drama with people has simmered and smoothed; I've learned many important life lessons through the latter one. "Drama causes Trauma," my own personal quote: it causes trauma, but also has a purpose and made me learn to put up relationship barriers and choose friends wisely. What Blessings! I was hurt because I had trusted someone that I probably shouldn't have and now I realized God wanted me to learn something and I am so happy I learned this now instead of later.
Notice Blessings and thank God for them.
~ Abby
My Great Aunt died last Monday, her funeral was Yesterday. As we sat in the large 19-century church, the first two center pews filled with her loved ones, it made me think - Just how small and short our lives are. She was 86, an old widow, set in her ways and unchanged by society, she had a problem with hearing and constantly forgot things, like walking her pride and joy, Missy. She had out-lived her two husbands, and many friends, if not all.
We left the church and filed down the aisle toward the front door of the church, I saw the crying face of my grandma and countless others... I hadn't shed a tear, but I realized in the church - I would miss her. I had never been terribly close to her, but somehow, some way, I would. She had made a difference in my life, old memories of laughter she had caused: trampling Dad's fresh grass he had just grown or her walking into the house without a knock...
As we climbed the hill to the Cemetery, the same place my grandfather was buried and other family members, some of which I didn't even know existed, I heard my brother's name mentioned, my oldest brother, yet still my baby brother as he had never seen his first birthday. I had never known where he was buried and yet I happened to be feet from him. As I realized, I teared up, he would have been 22, just having had that birthday a month and a half ago. I missed him too... and yet I had never even met him. How much of an impact he had made; I've thought about it many times and the one person I would want to meet if I could meet someone who had passed away, was my dead brother... We take life for granted, our siblings, our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, Spouses, even friends. Imagine if we did know when we would die... what if it were Tomorrow? Needless to say, I doubt we'd continue that fight with that sister who borrowed your clothes without asking, or the brother that snoops. Personally, I would love to have my big baby brother snoop in my stuff... I would love to just have him around, even if he stole the last cookie or wanted to watch a show I didn't like.
Rather than fight with our close ones, why don't we show them the Love they deserve?
~Abby
