Welcome my friend! Come on in & join me in a cuppa while we reflect on living life! I know it’s a broad topic but I believe the focus of our reflection today is important.
I thought we would sit surrounded by our garden that’s looking so much greener & refreshed since the rains arrived! There is also the heavy scent of Frangipani upon the air at the moment!
Which is such a delight as I thought the drought may have been killing these beautiful trees because they had looked very sad indeed. But they have come out of the drought, flourishing!
As we sit alfresco under the pergola with our tea blend of Creme Brulee & homemade almond scones topped with a dob of Greek yogurt, fresh blueberries & strawberries. Feeling the cool sea breeze upon our face….
Such a welcome change from the extreme humidity of our Aussie summer over the past week.
We had a massive electrical storm go through last night with loud thunder & lightning rumbling across the sky, a few lightning strikes hitting the water behind us with frightening explosive energy. But the storm was also accompanied by refreshing rain that has replenished the garden again!
Now we’re comfy & sipping our cuppas, let’s begin our reflection…
A Life well lived
Recently, I received a beautiful gift for my birthday, a handcrafted figurine by Susan Lordi named Tapestry. She was given to me jointly by my step daughters. My eldest step daughter had the joy (gifts are her love language) of putting the gift together.
She stated that she had purchased this figurine because it reminded her of my life...a life well lived which is the description Susan thought as she carved it...as you can see this figurine is covered in memories of life’s events that are interwoven into the Tapestry of life.
These memories are being held close to her heart. The gold gilding highlights these closely held memories of a life lived well…with a spouse who has since passed ~ golden memories…so very precious.
You see this particular stepdaughter & I have something very much in common, we both know & understand the agony of widowhood.
She lost her late husband in a horrific accident in the line of duty, just after celebrating their first year of marriage together.
And I lost my late husband to brain cancer after much too short a marriage.
My stepdaughter’s statement gave me food for thought…a life well lived! Yes, my life with my late husband was definitely a life well lived…together…
Love & Loss
We lived a passionate life in love, in adventure, in working on the farm together, a beautiful relationship within the short time that was given to us.
As did my stepdaughter with her husband, our son in law…both marriages were living abundant relationships that ended abruptly!
Thus, we are both on our unique journeys of healing, although we are at different points & stages along the way within our respective journeys.
We know & understand how intense & uncomfortable this bumpy road of grief can be at times, even when one has found love again.
You see my friend, we don’t stop loving the one who has passed because new love has been found. Grief is such a strange & unpredictable emotion, popping its head up when we least expect it, taking us totally off guard! So we need to continue in our journey of healing.
God’s promise is that He is…
“…near to those who are brokenhearted. And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34: 18
Which I can attest to, as I’m a living Memorial to His love & healing power…
My dear friend are you experiencing difficult times at the moment…times that feel like an emotional &/or spiritual drought…I get it…I really do…however we can emerge flourishing!
We just need to allow the replenishing love of God to restore us through these stormy hard times (you’re welcome to read the following) in Mending our brokenness gently in His way & timing!
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
Or in Prayer
© 2020 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog Photos by Jennifer & on Pexels.com All Rights Reserved.
Tea With Jennifer 
How special to think someone thought “a life well lived” and thought of you! What a powerful sentiment. I pray others think something similar – especially as they watch my husband and I live out this life together!
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Thank you Jennifer, yes it was very humbling indeed. I join you in prayer, as we can never become complacent…Can we?
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What a beautiful post. Both with the thought of cool refreshing rain, and the somber moments of heartbreak. Inspiring and encouraging. What a beautiful relationship with your step daughter. 🤗🙏🏻 Blessings to you!
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Thank you Lisa! So lovely having you here for a time of reflection together 😀
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