Comments on Growing Is Beautiful: When It's Time to Let Go

Yes, Yes!

2011-10-14T18:14:43.313-07:00

Yes, Yes!

@chri...

2011-10-14T16:15:24.236-07:00

@chris: Thanks for stopping by, Chris! I have enjoyed my time over at the table with all the Crumbles and am so grateful to hear your wise words here, too.

I feel as if I could write a whole blog post in response to your comment {but I will try not to!}. Thank you for reminding me about the unclenching that Ann Voskamp speaks of. That concept resonated with me when I first read it earlier this year. But of course I wasn't ready to see that while I'd opened up immensely to receive God's Grace, I still had one hand holding tight to a bit of the past I didn't want to let go. What joy to finally be here, though, understanding that it's time to unclench this last piece and reach out for what He's got in store.

And the idea of God asking us to be patient with Him? Such truth. It's hard to remember in the heat of a moment, but always I look back and praise Him for not doing things any faster than He did.

I *love* that song of Sara Groves'. But I haven't thought of it recently and I'm so glad you brought it up. I shall be listening to it presently because it's definitely apropos here and music always helps me in times like these.

And "transformed" your morning? I am humbled, new friend, if I've brought even a bit of light into your day. Much grace to you--and thank you again for reading here.

hi Courtney, i found you from your (helpful) comm...

2011-10-14T02:34:20.204-07:00

hi Courtney,

i found you from your (helpful) comments in "Crumbs", and popped over here.

i'm so sorry about all the losses you've had to grieve the last few years, and about the fears those losses have engendered. "burying yesterday's dreams", as you put it, can be a desperately hard thing to do--it feels like losing a piece of ourselves, even if (to use a simile of Ann Voskamp's) it's really less like losing a hand than like unclenching a fist. given how hard it is to "unclench", it's easy to wish that God would flood us with His truth straightaway, but as you say, He is patient with us, and asks us to be patient with Him in return.

i'm praying that, however hard it may be to imagine now, God will bring you to a place where your past, far from being a burden to you, will be a joy, in that you will be able to see God's working *all* things in that past for your good, and for His glory.

thank you for your post, which has transformed my morning. you write beautifully!!

--chris

p.s.: btw, do you know Sara Groves's (old) song, "Painting Pictures of Egypt"? reading your post, i was reminded of it, and thought you might like it, since it's about clinging to the past and hoping for the future.

@tin...

2011-10-13T19:52:36.830-07:00

@tinuviel: So I'm not the only one who packs up sorrow in cardboard boxes? I thought that might be the case. Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement here. It *is* a hard passage, but aren't those the ones where God is most real and life altering? I am learning this, beginning to embrace the hard paths for all the beauty and glory and God that I know will come through them. May all your boxes full of grief be emptied out of the sadness and filled to overflowing with His Hope, Peace, and most especially JOY.

@An...

2011-10-13T19:36:57.997-07:00

@Anonymous: {I'm guessing this might be T. here?} Thank you for your enthusiasm for this "letting go" that I am working through. Your excitement is infectious and you are so very right--His future for me is *now*. Thank you for this much-needed reminder. Many blessings to you, Friend, as you press on through all the hardships to become the person He's called you to be.

"I'm starting to wondering if all these b...

2011-10-13T15:56:14.525-07:00

"I'm starting to wondering if all these boxes are really holding grief instead of my belongings." I know that feeling. So beautifully you describe a difficult life passage. Grace and peace to you in the journey.

Just let it go!!!!! Get excited about whats comi...

2011-10-13T13:26:03.802-07:00

Just let it go!!!!! Get excited about whats coming! Start feeling it, start smelling the wonders of what He has in storage for you. It's becoming!!!! Digest this fact. Take this to heart. You are living His future now!!! Lucky You!!! So exciting!!!! amazing writing!!!!! I see God flourishing in you just by reading this. There's no way that a normal person can express things the way you do. God is in you!!! Your capacity to open your heart to Him so that He can be in you, it's just out of this world!!! I have a long way to go, but, you give me hope! God bless you always!!!!