Reflections

Reflections is a weekly meme hosted by Kristin of A Simply Enchanted Life and Fizzy of Fizzy Pop Collection. Every Sunday we will dig deeper in our recent reads to explore the real-life lessons within the pages. Reading the book yourself is not necessary to participate. If you would like to host your own reflection, you’re welcome to copy and paste this introduction, with the link to our pages. You may use our current or prior reflections or come up with your own.

In ‘Words from the Heart‘ by Kathleen Fuller, Aunt Cevilla had met a man in her youth and fallen in love. He had nicknamed her Bunny. CJ had joined the military and went to fight in the Korean war. In one of his letters home to Bunny, CJ says that suffering “hones our faith and belief.” Was there a time when a trial you went through strengthened your faith?

I’m just going to say it, I sometimes feel like I am becoming ‘that person’. You know the one, the one that airs all their personal problems and issues on social media to the exclusion of anything positive. I feel like I’m sounding like that attention seeker sometimes vague-booker person. My life has changed dramatically with the loss of my local best friend recently. Losing her is something that brought me to my knees. But in losing her I also lost my Minions of Mischief. I mean they aren’t lost, but they aren’t here. They aren’t out of my life but they aren’t in my life either. That makes total sense to me, not sure how it translates for you. I’ve lost a few friends over the last year, each one still affecting me. Most not yet even having made it through all the firsts that come with loss. I talk a lot about finding a new balance. I can’t bear to say normal, there is nothing normal about any of this.

That all being said, this isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with trial or suffering or loss in any of the many ways that comes. I think that in the aftermath of any great loss we are drawn closer to our faith and our Father. If for no other reason the prayer of ‘why?’. The prayer of ‘help me’. I’ll be honest, the hard part for me isn’t during the painful part but after and holding onto my faith. Don’t get me wrong, I always have my faith. But I’m horrible at relationships. I’m terrible at keeping in touch with others. I am ‘that friend’. I find myself being ‘that friend’ with God as well. That friend that thinks about Him often but isn’t great at reaching out. I spend time with His word (hello, it’s a book) but less time in His presence and in communication than I should. I think that this year has taught me that while I’m a terrible friend I’m also sometimes, occasionally, a great friend. And that regardless of what my earthly friendships look like I need those gentle reminders (or lately not so gentle and more soul-rending reminders) that God is my friend as well. My faith is more than faith, it’s a relationship that needs to be cultivated the same as my earthly friends. It’s a work in progress. Difficult times stand to remind me where I’m at in that and where I could be. But um, God, yeah could you keep those reminders gentle next time? Thanks~

Your turn! Was there a time when a trial you went through strengthened your faith? Share in the comments below.