"Recovering From Losses In Life"

"Loss. It's a simple four-letter word that is one of our common companions throughout life...You have experienced may losses in your life already...How you respond to them or what you let them do to you will affect the rest of your life."

Recently, some friends helped me to realize that there are several losses in my life that I did not let myself fully mourn. The book "Recovering From Losses In Life" by H. Norman Wright was recommended to me. Now, I will recommend this book to you. Here are just a few of the ideas that touched me:

Loss is not the enemy; not facing its existence is.

Perhaps loss traumatizes us so much because it carries with it the message, "You really are not in charge of your life."

The purpose of grieving over your loss is to get beyond these reactions to face your loss and work on adapting to it. The overall purpose of grief is to bring you to the point of making necessary changes so you can live with the loss in a healthy way.

Our grief work is not really complete until we have found some meaning in our grief.

In this book, H. Norman Wright gives information about what grief is, the problems in grieving, and the stages of grieving. He gives information about how to grieve--practical exercises to help you face your loss and to grow through the process. He also gives do's and don't when you are trying to comfort someone else.

This a great book. One that belongs in everyone's library!

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

I love how God always meets our needs. I love how He makes all things work together in His timing. Last winter, spring, and the beginning of this summer I had been experiencing a deeper depression. When I feel depressed it is feelings of sadness and hopelessness. God works in many ways to help me through these times... medication, prayer, family, friends, and He often leads me to just the right book to read at the right time.

This time it was "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. "One Thousand Gifts" is Ann's story of discovering what it means to live fully. Her childhood was shattered by the accidental death of her younger sister, Aimee. Her family would spend years in the blackness of grief. Anne accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was sixteen, but she would continue to struggle with fear, stress, depression, anxiety attacks, and agoraphobia. Then a friend of her dared her to write down one thousand gifts that God gives her. Ways that He blesses her and shows He loves her. "Sometimes you don't know when you're taking the first step through a door until you're already through it" stated Ann. This listing of gifts started Ann on a journey. This journey took her to eucharisteo, giving thanks. Then to on to grace, God's favor for her. Then to a sanctuary of time, learning to live in the moment. And on the journey went on and still goes on.

There are books that are good to read and then there are important books to read. "One Thousand Gifts" is a must read for everyone who is wanting more out of their life. Her life, woven in a tapestry of words, will teach you, bless you, and dare I say change you. I know reading this book and listing my one thousand gifts has blessed me is already changing me!