For many, this year may have felt like one long season of winter or loss – a loss of dreams, loss of hopes, or loss of a beloved family member. But even though we have all experienced loss this year in one way or another, what the prophet Isaiah reminds us is that we have all been given a son.
His goal for me in this life was not for me to stop making messes; instead, I was to sit down at the table of His grace and mercy every time I made a mess. I was to sit down at a place He had already prepared for me because of the messes He knew I would make.
Earned secure attachment occurs step by step, minute by minute, and mile by mile when we tell our stories to an empathetic listener who invites us to see them through a different lens.
I’m learning that no matter how big the mess, the strength of the arms underneath remains unchanged. God’s arms are always strong enough to hold our messes, kind enough to forgive our spills, patient enough to clean up our dust, and holy enough to call us to a higher standard than comfort.
The point isn’t to have perfect words. The point is to make margin to have our words, and our hearts, exposed by the power of the Holy Spirit and a God who loves to set crooked things straight and make broken things new.
As we saw several weeks ago, understanding our own attachment styles can help us be better parents or caregivers to our children. But identifying our own attachment styles is only half the battle—we also need to know how children reveal their attachment styles to us....
As we courageously choose to look to our heavenly Father, we can heal from the past and love the people in our present and future well. So, keep reading, keep learning, and keep walking toward restoration. Healing and rebuilding are coming.
Mentally trace your steps through the day and carefully construct mechanisms that give you margin to connect with yourself as you really are, with your God as He really is, and with the people around you God has placed to help you notice His presence and goodness in your life.
I mean, really? Am I a moron? Or just so desperate by the end of May for some R&R that I really think summer will be a restful season even when all four kids are home and need help every step of the way to be semi-productive, non-eye-rolling human beings?!