Baby Steps

I shared in "The Gathering" that I believed our get-together was an important step toward healing for all of us.  It wasn't a giant step, but it was, nevertheless, a step.

Those of you who know me well, know that I absolutely love babies.  I've raised quite a few and even had a home daycare at one time.  I have to say that never once have I seen a baby who has just learned to sit, get up off their bottom and take off walking across the room.  It just doesn't happen that way.

Eventually after their little back gets stronger and they become more steady, they start to reach for the edge of the couch or the coffee table.  It takes effort to get a good grip to pull that weight up off the floor and into a wobbly standing position.  They fall back down to their bottom numerous times before those cute, short, pudgy legs get strong enough to support their body.  

Ah, and then begins the edging around the furniture.  One step at a time, frequently ending up on their bottom to start all over again.  But each time they pull themselves up, it gets a little easier.  Their confidence begins to grow.  Then one day they decide to let go for a second or two at a time. Then before you know it, they are letting go to take a step or two from the couch to the coffee table.  Freedom for them is just around the corner.

Parents get super excited as they walk baby across the floor holding both of their little hands.  They entice them with a toy to take those steps alone. And with each step they make alone mommy and daddy count out loud, "one, two, three..."   And all the while baby instinctively knows that mommy or daddy is right there, ready to take their hand and steady them or help them back up on their feet again. 

When we are going through a loss, and we have been knocked hard to our bottoms we are very much like that baby learning to sit up, pull up, and walk.
Just as babies have their own schedule for learning to do these things, we have our own schedule for getting through the grieving process.  We can't compare our grieving process to anyone else's.  We are going to take a step or two in the right direction and we may wobble and fall.  But just like that baby, every time we pull ourselves back up we become stronger and we can take more steps forward and less steps back.  

And we have a heavenly Father who is there to hold our hand, to steady us and to lift us when we fall.  "The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take.  If they fall it isn't fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand."  Psalm 37:23-24 (TLB).  Freedom for those of us who are grieving will at some point be just around the corner, so keep moving at your own pace and keep looking for the

Sunshine After the Storm
Blessings!
Betsy