Confetti Effect
Suffering Restores Our Faith
Most of us would rather not experience the physical and mental pain that inevitably comes with suffering. But the fact we live in an imperfect world pretty much makes hard times a guarantee.
The Cardinal on my Fencepost
The cardinal is symbolic of life, hope, and restoration. They are representative of a loved one who has passed away. When I see one, I truly believe it means they are visiting. I have found that they show up when I need them most or miss them.
I have researched the symbolism of red cardinals. As a result, I was blown away by the accuracy of how these gorgeous red birds appear in my life time and time again during periods of sorrow and celebration.
Presence over Presents
Be there for your friends; even when it’s hard.
My younger self used to run from the hard stuff. I wasn’t trained or prepared on how to face pain and loss. It made me sad and uncomfortable. I think back to my late 20’s even early 30’s when I would see a friend at Publix who I heard was going through a tough season whether it be a loss of a loved one, divorce, surgery or sickness. I would panic and turn down another aisle to avoid coming in contact because I was truly at a loss for words.
Dog Gone It
When people who have never had a dog see their dog-owning friends mourn the loss of a dog, they probably think it’s all a bit of an overreaction, after all, “it’s just a dog.” I know this to be true because I used to think this way. However, after my beloved pug, Buddy passed away in January I knew the truth. Your pet is never “just a dog.”
Losing my dog was its own kind of sorrow, different from any I have felt before.