"Somewhere in your head, you still think of yourself in these terms: cherished, loved, encouraged, acknowledged, accepted, protected, worthy, wanted, or abandoned, rejected, put down, criticized, judged, unwanted.
And He speaks a new word, and avails a new work.My daughter. My son. And the work of our healing begins."
Tessa Afshar speaks those words in Ann Voskamp's blog that I read every week. It's about Jesus taking care of our deep sadness over father wounds. I'm glad she also says it's "work" to heal and it's a process. I help people who come to me for counseling deal with their pain from the past and the present. So much sadness in relationships, but also beauty and hope. We are driven to intimacy with others. It was designed that way from the maker. Yet, we don't seem to be able to get it right.
I have father wounds; can identify more with the words rejected, put down, criticized, and judged, than cherished and accepted. And that has consequences for my relationships. I often dish out a heaping serving of criticism with my declarations of love and acceptance to those I was given to raise. But I want to get it right; use these moments with my children for their good. To build them up, and not tear them down.
Bringing up children is hard work, and I get tired so quickly. Thus my quest to find a source of new strength in Him. It hasn't worked yet, but I won't give up.
Isaiah 40:29 - 31 He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youth will become exhausted, and young men and women will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
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