HOPE, paying it forward, September - Suicide Awareness Month
I run. (But. There's. HOPE.) But I can't run from it. (But. There's. HOPE.) It is a sad reality. (But. There's. HOPE.) If you are not wanting to read about this I understand. (But. There's. HOPE.) But it's out there, every where. (But. There's. HOPE.) And the "awareness" month for it is September. (But. There's. Hope.) Awareness and prevention of suicide. (But. There's. HOPE.) I hate the word suicide, I hate seeing it, I hate bumping into it in a post unaware. (But. There's. HOPE.) And who doesn't?! Especially if you've lost some one you love to it. (But. There's. HOPE.) But I write as a way to give (But. There's. HOPE.) to even one person. Listen, There's HOPE!
Hope to those who have lost someone, and hope to those who are hopeless. Reach out. Help is there for you, friends are there for you, experts are here for you, God is here for you. The biggest lie when we are feeling hopeless is that no one understands and no one can help. It's so true, you don't just pray and feel better. I am not saying slap on a Bible verse and you'll be OK. It takes many tools: doctors, counselors, medication...
I have been taking a low dose anti-anxiety/anti-depression medication for years, and most likely will continue to as long as my doctor recommends. Everyone has different medical conditions. Its just one piece of my health care. I also take fybromyalgia medication. It is also why I exercise, it helps my mind and my body aches. Like I said, many tools. But God is such a huge part of my healing, He is my strength. He is here for us, whether grieving or hopeless.
Please reach out. I've posted phone numbers below. If you're discouraged, hopeless, or grieving, there is help. And if you just need someone to listen and understand, I along with many would do anything to support your healing. And there is no shame in getting help. Mental health is just like any other part of our health! Professional help is a gift. I have received it for clinical depression in my earlier years and for grief counseling most recently. I'm so thankful. Not ashamed...thankful.
Suicide Awareness month has the goal of bringing hope. Hope to those finding life hopeless, and hope to those who have lost some one. Two sides.
Prevention. And. Healing.
HOPE: Healing, Outreach, Prevention, and Education. I find I must speak up as one who has experienced clinical depression, as well as one who has lost a loved one. Honesty about things so personal can be hard, but it's not hard if it helps others. I want to thank those who have walked the road ahead of our family surviving suicide loss. Thank you for stepping into my healing.
When my brother died, he was a husband, dad, son, sibling, nephew, uncle, co-worker, friend, the guy who drew the lonely in and made them smile. That is how I remember him and always will. Our loved ones should be defined by how they lived, not how they died. Don't let that be the end of your story...there's more for you
;
Each of us have travelled a different journey to healing, but one thing that I have clung to from day one, is something that my sister said over and over...God is good.
I've learned through my support group family, what the loss feels like from all these different perspectives. I have been affirmed in my pain and confusion, as well as aware of the pain of my loved ones, and the pain of all who have walked this path.
Loss: It costs to love. It costs a lot to love greatly. We feel that price when we lose someone so special. Looking back, I see that after spiraling in efforts to survive, God placed so many special people in my life to walk along side my family and me, people who understood the complex grief from suicide. It's like no other grief. Each type of grief is different and so we each have a unique role to play in helping others.
Loss and God: God is good. The goodness of God is beyond comprehension. But God loved us at great cost! His perfect holy love cost the life of His son, Jesus...FOR US! John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes shall not die but have eternal life." God knew Christ Jesus would rise again after taking on the pain of all the world. We still have pain, but receiving this gift of life means one day it will be gone forever.
This costly love for US is reason to heal, to live! He died for us, so that in the end it is not the end, but a beautiful eternity with God and our loved ones. This is HOPE! All hopelessness is made HOPE in Christ Jesus! Nothing we do or feel can separate us from God when we accept this truth of Romans 8:38-39.
This costly love for US is reason to heal, to live! He died for us, so that in the end it is not the end, but a beautiful eternity with God and our loved ones. This is HOPE! All hopelessness is made HOPE in Christ Jesus! Nothing we do or feel can separate us from God when we accept this truth of Romans 8:38-39.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
God speaks to my soul. Pay that cost forward. Press into the pain of another, at cost, because someone entered into your pain at the cost of their own memories. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. But I always want to...
Another way to help is to listen to someone who is hopeless. Encourage them that there is no shame in getting help. Get them to help if you need to. Because as you pay it forward, you realize it is healing to love. But the healing comes with the cost of feeling pain. Turns out,
I sometimes run into that cost, and sometimes from it! I don't always love well. But I rely on Jesus to love well. 1 John 4:18 says, "Perfect love casts out fear." Jesus is the perfect lover of our souls. When I believe that?! There's some real purpose to live and love! In all this, there is no right way to grieve or time table to grieve. But one thing I never stop doing is praying for the hurting. Sometimes that's all I have, and God says its enough.
May I be faithful in the unique way God would have me to share hope. Sometimes I write, daily I pray, often I listen, and occasionally I share. But whatever it looks like, it is important to give because,
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Proverbs 13:2, and 1 Peter 3:15 says, "if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it."
Another way to help is to listen to someone who is hopeless. Encourage them that there is no shame in getting help. Get them to help if you need to. Because as you pay it forward, you realize it is healing to love. But the healing comes with the cost of feeling pain. Turns out,
its. a. beautiful. cost.
I sometimes run into that cost, and sometimes from it! I don't always love well. But I rely on Jesus to love well. 1 John 4:18 says, "Perfect love casts out fear." Jesus is the perfect lover of our souls. When I believe that?! There's some real purpose to live and love! In all this, there is no right way to grieve or time table to grieve. But one thing I never stop doing is praying for the hurting. Sometimes that's all I have, and God says its enough.
May I be faithful in the unique way God would have me to share hope. Sometimes I write, daily I pray, often I listen, and occasionally I share. But whatever it looks like, it is important to give because,
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Proverbs 13:2, and 1 Peter 3:15 says, "if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it."
Sometimes I feel the lightness of the verse below, sometimes I don't. But I know it to be true because of those who have gone ahead of me, and because I have sensed it in my soul more and more, as time goes on... I may not be dancing today, but I thank God that He is making all things new and I believe it for you too. I have danced since my brother's passing, it took a long time. We can feel heavy and hopeful at the same time. So in His strength do
What you can. When you can. How you can.
It. Gets. Better.
Keep. Clinging. To. God. You'll. See.
But. Until. Heaven. It. Doesn't. Go. Completely. Away.
That's. A. Beautiful. Love.
In loving memory of my brother, Joel. 💜
Rescue, Lauren Daigle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FhQCYGYXzw
Healing:
The Garden, Kari Jobe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y43Z0WJLDS4&list=RDY43Z0WJLDS4&start_radio=1
Being Loved:
How He Loves Us, David Crowder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suMhQ3ETCyI
You Say, Lauren Daigle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI&index=2&list=RD2FhQCYGYXzw
If you need help, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has a host of support options. They offer guidance:
If a person says they are considering suicide:
Take the person seriously
Stay with them
Help them remove lethal means
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Text TALK to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7
Escort them to mental health services or an emergency room
Share options, labels to search topics, and sign up by email options below and beside. From my heart to yours...💜
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