We are walking wounded.
Some days I find it harder to be alive than others. Why?
Real life is hard.
Not the pretty insta filter life where everyone is smiling and happy.
Real life costs me something.
My pride. My agenda. My need to be in control.
Last night, my best friend texted me 4 words.
“Chill. Love. Forgive. Wait.”
I was in crisis mode with life, right? And she texts me that!? 😧  NOT what I wanted to hear. I wanted to hear that she agreed with me. Not that I should be the one to lay down.
Ok, if you know me, I don’t lay down willingly. I will fight to stay up. I will game-face; I will push myself hard.
But y’all, sometimes I just don’t have it in me. And I need a friend to tell me to lay down.

CHILL. Breathe, Heather. Be present.
LOVE. Accept what is. Nothing less, nothing more. Wherever someone is–be there with them. In whatever way is helpful. No fixing allowed.
FORGIVE. Lay down the need to be right. The need to be first. The need to defend. Forgive and forgive and forgive…. (x77)
WAIT. Let time and space do what it needs to do. Give the gift of freedom to someone who needs space to work through things. And let God be God. We are not god. Waiting can be active. Go about life as usual. Trust it is all in work by grace.

So Jesus said this to his followers, and he says it to us today: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.”

We are walking wounded. 😰
Let’s try to lean into wholeness. Maybe we will learn to do just as Jesus asks–following him to wholeness by our wounds.

REFLECT

1. What hurts today? Grief? Broken relationships? Addiction? Heartache? Depression? Sadness? Anger? Name it. Write it down.

2. What ONE thing in your week can you let go of, so you can find time for self-care? Some time with just you & God? Or maybe it’s a good time to just breathe & be? Pain is exhausting. Take care of yourself in this.

3. Get out a piece of paper and write down those four words: chill, love, forgive and wait. Leave enough room to write a few things down that might be helpful for you beside each word.

4. Comment “we are wounded” & we will pray for you!