Despite what your circumstances may be telling you, you are profoundly and deeply loved by God, uniquely engineered to bring your brand of goodness to this earth, and irreplaceable. The things that happen to you and around you are temporary. Please know that.
These pictures make me smile. I hope they do the same for you. Life is so very good.
(This one is Teenaged Daughter, 15. She always puts a smile on my face.)
Yes, smiles, I knead a few of these today.
ReplyDeleteESB: :)
DeleteShelly, you have me shook up. It makes me sad to know that there is even more trouble in your life. I'm sure you will tell us exactly what happened when you're ready. Until then I can only offer my blog love and support and urge you to read your own words and take them to heart.
ReplyDeleteShady: Thank you, my friend. I will be fine. Someone I have known well for years took their own life yesterday, and because of how and where it went down, my school is deeply impacted, too.
DeleteI just wish people who have those thoughts, especially impulsively, would resolve to wait another day and see what the morning brings.
Dear Shelly,
ReplyDeleteIt must be so difficult to move through your day. When the unspeakable happens, it's like paralysis for the community. I love what you have written about God's love for us. There was a time in my life when I just could not feel that reality. Then I met a friend who helped me to move from that stark and lonely place in a very gentle way by saying this simple phrase: "of course God loves you, Jenny." I married the person who helped me to believe it with all my being. May you and everyone at the school and in your community feel the presence of God's love through all the beautiful goodness around you.
Jenny: What a beautiful story. It is so very true. I wish everyone could know it to the core of their being. Thank you, friend. Your words are gold to me-
DeleteI'm sorry there was a tragedy at your school.
ReplyDeleteThese pictures made me smile too. Your daughter looks lovely.
Theresa: Thank you for the warm words~
DeleteI'm sorry that something isn't right in your world, Shelly. I thank you for this post. It not only made me smile but cry a few happy tears. Your words are the reminder that we all need to hear sometimes and these photos are so deeply moving and say so much.
ReplyDeleteYou're in my thoughts and prayers. Big (((Hugs)))
Jenn June: Thank you so much. I feel the prayers and hugs~
DeleteEvery day tragedy happens...sometimes in my world sometimes in the world beside me.....as you I cling to that which the LORD has so graciously given me to bring comfort and freshness to my life.....loved all your pics ...and the Teenage Beauty....uhmmmm Beautiful
ReplyDeleteRhonda: Yes, you are so right, and thank you~
Deletewhen times are so difficult for me I can't even pray I just repeat over and over over, "Jesus, i trust in you." this always gives me prespective.
ReplyDeleteAnnmarie Pipa: I just prayed that very thing this morning. Thank you so much-
DeleteWonderful pictures! You are a blessing to us all--constantly lifting others even as you go through your own heartaches.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said is so true and so important for people to know. God is the father of our spirits. If everyone could truly understand what that means--that we are literally the sons or daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us with a perfect love, and wants nothing more than our happiness and our return to Him--less of these tragedies would occur. Sending hugs!!
Nancy: Your second paragraph is so absolutely true. Thank you, friend~
DeleteDearest Shelly,
ReplyDeleteOh My!!! I feel like it is me who was given the strength to live and taught me treat myself right by your words and return comment to Mr Shady.
"you are deeply loved by God, uniquely engineered to bring your brand of goodness to this earth, and irreplaceable."
And you said "wait another day and see what the morning brings"! There is one very short phrase I deeply have kept in my mind. "Tomorrow is another day" by Scarlett O'Hara in the movie "Gone with the Wind". It was a bit more than 4 decades ago when I watched this movie. And right after I found my handicap in my pituitary grand so that I'm so tiny. The scene she said this phrase, holding the carrot in one hand, gave me quite an impact. I thought "I shall be strong as well".
However, I now know we cannot live without love given from others in our heart like your marvelous pictures you showed here. I truly hope that the people who hurt by the incident can have all the love and strength with the help of people around them.
Oh, how I wished someone to know he was an irreplaceable person. You know who... You won't know what wonderful thing wainting for you.
With all my LOVE, Miyako*
Orchid: I was so very touched to read what you wrote. You are an inspiration to us all. You are so right- love and hugs to you, my dear friend Miyako~
DeleteThose pictures did make me feel better this morning. Sorry for the loss as I read a little more into it from facebook.
ReplyDeleteOdie: Thank you, friend~
Delete((Shelly)) I am so sorry for that tragedy (I read your comments) How sad with that individual and the desperation they must have felt to do such a thing; something that will impact not only their family and close friends but basically the whole community. I truly do agree with you; we are all fearfully and wonderfully made; God put himself in us; breathed his breath in us; we need to remember that always, but especially when times get tough.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful reminders of that! Your daughter is a beautiful young woman!!
hugs to you Shelly; saying a prayer for you and all involved this morning
betty
betty: Thank you so much. I taught him and now I teach his daughter. Your kind and warm words have been a balm to me this morning~
DeleteOh, Shelly, I am so very sorry. I can only imagine the sense of loss, the sense of futile anger, even, that you must be feeling right now.
ReplyDeleteThere are people who do not -- or cannot -- feel the love around them. How awful for this person to have been one of them.
Big hug from me,
Pearl
Pearl: If only they could see the aftermath of their choice. Thank you for the hug, my friend~
DeletePraying for that poor soul right now.
ReplyDeleteSaid a prayer for you also.
I have been down that road of "lost all hope". I have been someone who did not love herself...therefore pushed a lot of people away. I was so sad.
I hope and pray people will reach out to each other in this life. It can be so hard. Every day reach out to others. You really never know how you might touch a soul.
so very sad.
Your pictures did make me smile. Life is precious.
Christine: Thank you for the prayers. And I'm so glad things have changed for you today, my friend~
DeleteLovely pictures, they made me smile :-)
ReplyDeleteBig hugs
Eva
Eva: Thank you~
DeleteShelly, I am so sorry for everyone's loss and pain. My cousin took her life also about 10 years ago. It is so shocking. She was in her thirties. I pray for your friend's family, you and the people at school. May God's love and peace envelope everyone.
ReplyDeleteBelle: I'm so sorry for your cousin- the despair they feel must be so awful. Thank you for your prayers, my friend~
DeleteShelly hugs to you during this difficult time. The photos are wonderful and encouraging. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteJBR: Thank you so much- I appreciate it~
DeleteLots of Hugs. Is there anything I can do for you?
ReplyDeleteI have missed on reading lately and I am sorry that I did not get to your blog earlier.
I am so sorry that a tragedy took place in your school. I am sure it must be very hard for you to talk about it right now. You are very thought full and caring. Even in difficult time you are sharing meaningful and encouraging pictures. Hope you get through this difficult time and once again comforts of happiness come by.
Munir: Bless your heart- you are always so kind. Thank you for the warm wishes. It really does mean so much.
DeleteI liked the two older people and the young baby and the grandma. sandie
ReplyDeleteSandie: Those touched my heart~
DeleteShelly, I am so sorry. I haven't been a very supportive blog friend lately. I lost my brother, an uncle, a nephew and a brother in law to suicide. It still hurts. I understand a little about the shock and pain you must feel. Each of them were deeply hurting physically and emotionally. I believe that even if a believer has done this, they are in so much pain that God sees that pain and cries with them and brings them especially close to Him to hold as they start to heal. I have to believe that a merciful God knows that they hurt too much and saw no hope. I know this is not how some Christians may believe, but my God reaches His hand out to all in spite of their pain and suffering and sees the confusion in their minds. I will pray for you in these coming days that you will find peace in the midst of this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteJill: Oh, I am almost speechless at your loss. I'm so very sorry. What devastation that must have been. I agree with you, that only God can judge a person's heart, not we here on earth. Thank you for your prayers. That means so much.
DeleteThe photos are very heartwarming. Your daughter is a beauty. I am sorry about what happened at your school.
ReplyDeleteMissed Periods: Thank you so much~
DeleteWow what great photow the ones with the babies are my favourite ones, it is terrible when bad things happen.
ReplyDeleteJo-Anne: I love to look at baby pictures. It's an instant smile.
Delete"Joy comes in the morning", but sometimes it is so difficult to make it through the night. These are rough times for you and I am sorry your heart aches. Lovely photos! There's something about smiling children that always bring hope to me.
ReplyDeleteSweet Tea: You are so right. Thank you~
DeleteI will hold you and yours in my heart this weekend. May you find comfort in the sunrise, and peace in it setting. Though incomprehensible at times, the world is truly in His hands...His love is stronger than all of this.
ReplyDeleteChantel: Thank you so much, friend~
DeleteShelly,
ReplyDeleteI love the sense of wonder and innocence you shared with us in these pictures.
Clearly those were in contrast to whatever happened at your school. I am so sorry for your pain. God bless you - Marsha
Marsha: Thank you. When something horrible happens, like someone taking their own life in a way that impacts a whole school full of children and adults, it's so good to be surrounded by the things I saw in these pictures, what you saw, too.
DeleteOH, Shelly, I"m so sorry for your loss and the deep sadness that kind of death brings. It's the kind of death that brings a much deeper sadness than any other. My ex's mother took her own life when her 6 kids were all still home, the youngest being my ex at age 10. It affected him the rest of his life, he blamed himself for being "naughty". His father became a bitter, lonely, faithless, old man, who died that way. My Spanish teacher, in Santa Rosa, CA, (now this would be like 26 years ago....) lost a close friend this way and she came back to school changed. All she said about it was that we should always look up and smile at everyone, that that smile could be the only goodness that someone else will see that day and it might save their life.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures made me smile. My favorite is the old lady hands and the chubby baby hands touching.
((((((Hugs)))))
Remembering you and this person's soul in my prayers.
You don't need to answer--I"m sure it's too draining, just know we are here for you, praying and loving you.
Jamie: Thank you- I feel those hugs. It is just so tragic- if they would stop and think of the aftermath they leave...
DeleteThis happened in their home right next to the school. He did it in front of his wife, who ran out hysterical through our kinder kids who were having Splash Day outside.
It's impacted so many people. Thank you for your prayers. He was my student and now I teach his daughter.
Shelly - I am so desperately sorry for the tragedy that happened and for all their family and friends that they have left behind , who will now have to try to make sense of it all. I trust that they will know God's comfort as they face the days ahead. I loved what you said about God. I can't imagine people who go through this life without having faith. Beautiful daughter and some lovely heart warming photos. Like Chatty, I also loved the one with the old couple and the young hands and old hands. Take care my friend.
ReplyDeleteThisisme: Thank you so much for your words of comfort. All I can do is pray for his family and hope good things come to them. And those pictures help me to feel good. I'm glad you liked them, too, my friend.
DeleteDearest Shelly, reading through the comments my heart lies heavy at the awful news I'm gleaning of the tragedy which weighs you down - both my mother and my cousin took their own lives, I know the gaping rawness of the wound this inflicts, upon all of those who are left behind in pieces.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are consciously seeking out what is joyous in your life, deciding to celebrate all the good you can see - and, oh wow - just LOOK at this beautiful creature up there, I'm sure your heart just must soar and do flip-flops of joy each time you gaze upon her. What a stunning young lady, she is positively breath-taking, isn't she?
Shrinky: Oh, I am so very sorry for your losses. The devastation suicide leaves is unique to it, and the grieving process is filled with double edged swords.
DeleteThank you so much for your kind words~
Oh my, Shelly, it always makes me feel so sad when I learn about a suicide. So many emotions are involved in the aftermath. It was so good to see the photo of your beautiful daughter! Thank you for sharing the photo with us. Hope you and your family are enjoying this Memorial Weekend. ♥
ReplyDeleteCindy: Thank you for your very kind words. I hope you and Clint have a wonderful holiday weekend with family, too~
DeleteDear Shelly, I'm sorry to learn that something tragic happened, but glad to see that you can let go of the horror and find some good in the world--witness those wonderful photographs. Thank you for sharing them. And perhaps out of that good can come the fortitude to help others. Peace.
ReplyDeleteDee: Yes, you are right. Out of something so hopelessly horrid, we always can find some good. Thank you-
DeleteThank you for sharing the wonderful photos, the smiles and the reminder of God's love through everything. Blessings to you, Shelly!
ReplyDeleteConnie: Despite what is evil and horrific, there is still wonderful goodness all around us. Thank you for stopping by~
DeleteSometimes we have to cling to the goodness that is around us, or we'll all go mad.
ReplyDeleteLydia: You are so vey right~
DeleteThose pictures were perfect for moving past things that are shocking, horrifying and unspeakable. Loved every picture!
ReplyDeleteSimone: Thank you~
DeleteIndeed! Life is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYour follower from the Philippines. =)
Irene: Thank you- and I love the Philippines~ :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteShelly, I have just reposting after reading the comments. Those are wonderful inspirational photographs, and your daughter is just radiant. I think you are taking the best approach to life as you absorb your sad loss.
ReplyDeleteJenny: Thank you for your kind words~
DeleteA happy, HAPPY post.
ReplyDeleteMarita: Thank you!
DeleteOh my gosh, love these pictures! Just finding you through another blog. I love finding other believers in the blogosphere!
ReplyDeletemare: Thank you for stopping by! I agree- and I'm glad we found each other!
Delete