What Belongs in Your Next Chapter?

by Rebecca Benston, HGBM Owner & Publisher

January was tiring. And although exhausting, it seems to have flown by. New challenges, new obstacles, new things to worry about. Why would we carry our old baggage when each day brings new challenges of its own? Our year started off fine, we were relieved to have made it through the holidays, but then both of my parents ended up in the hospital. To top it off, my daughter and I were sick and couldn’t go to visit either one of them. So, I just had to sit at home and pray that God would see them through whatever they were going through. For someone like me, that’s not easy. I want to know what’s happening when someone I care about is in distress. If there is ever anything I can do, I want to be able to help. When I can. But unfortunately, I haven’t been much help at all…and for more than just this past month.

I’ve noticed that since my ex-husband passed away last September, I’ve been dealing with some kind of grief replay. I can’t explain it, I just know that it has had me somewhat paralyzed while I’ve been trying to sort through all of the emotions I’ve been feeling. Things I thought I had already worked through found their way back to the surface and I was forced to start the process of “decluttering” all over again. It was unexpected—as our traumas always are—so I hadn’t really prepared myself for what I was facing.  Thankfully, we don’t have to spend our time constantly preparing for one bad thing or another. When we allow ourselves to rest in God’s protection and care, we can move forward confidently…even when we’re hurt or scared.

Last week, we talked about carrying the weight and when it’s time to let it go. I think it’s ironic that at the beginning of the year, one of the most common resolutions people make is to lose weight. But for the most part, they’re referring to that spare tire that appeared—seemingly overnight—or to those stubborn extra pounds that show themselves after two months of feasting and celebrating. It’s rare that people admit that the weight they need to let go of is more like a suitcase full of emotions or a trunk full of hurt that they haven’t had the heart to leave behind. I invite you to examine the “weight” you might be carrying and to give yourself permission to put it down. Tomorrow is a new day and when we’re fortunate enough to see one of those, we should always treat it as a gift to be enjoyed rather than a sentence to be served.

Stories have a way of reminding us that healing doesn’t always look the way we think it will—and that we’re not alone in it. If you need some encouragement as you look ahead to your next chapter, you can find inspiration and truth in our memoir/biography collection. Take 10% off your purchase this month, just use the code LOVE26 at checkout.