“ Every bit of healing in our lives is worth noticing and celebrating.”
I believe that no matter your current situation, you will look up at some point as your heart begins to heal and realize you aren’ t where you once were— and I want you to notice, so you can be encouraged when it comes. It’ s easy to notice when life gets even a little harder, but rarely do we actually pay attention when life gets any easier.
My friend, I don’ t want you to miss the signs of your healing. Because truthfully, sometimes, the trees all look the same.
Not until we make it out the other side do we realize just how close we had been to the clearing all along. But what a gift it would be to see how far you’ ve come in the midst of the journey— to discover you’ re not where you once were, that the stress is subsiding, and that the healing has begun!
So what are some of the everyday signs that perhaps you’ re shifting away from the effects of stress? Maybe you fold the laundry. Maybe you paint a painting. Or maybe one day you realize you’ re breathing deeply again without having to remind yourself to inhale and exhale. Perhaps you will notice you aren’ t as frustrated with your family as you had been, not as snippy about simple things. You are able to plan and prepare. You might be getting more sleep, or even dreaming about the future again.
Just as a person’ s brain can operate more creatively when healing from stress and survival, healing can also look like the capacity to do what you want to do in addition to what you have to do. You might bake or garden or design or spend time redecorating your spaces. You might come up with a creative lesson, craft a creative solution, or prepare an art project for your kids or grandkids.
As the healing unfolds, you may notice you have greater capacity to connect with others, including your spouse, children, friends, family, coworkers, patients, employees, students, or neighbors. Those texts that previously went unanswered— not only because you were too busy to respond but also because you just did not have enough energy to think about what you wanted to say— might finally be answered.
“ Every bit of healing in our lives is worth noticing and celebrating.”
You might stop procrastinating. You might make plans and keep them. You might actually want to add to your schedule because you have room in your heart for what those commitments may bring. You might surprise yourself by being spontaneous, or maybe you’ ll surprise yourself by being prepared.
When our brains begin to heal from stress, the signs can be so subtle we just might miss them. Every bit of healing in our lives is worth noticing and celebrating because Jesus gave His life to pay for each part. So while I know it can be painful to be reminded of how far you
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