Welcome to 2025! How wonderful that we have a new year to explore together my friend, with all of its potential. 

We often think of exploration as an outdoors activity, maybe even an artistic endeavour or travelling the world. But there are other forms of exploration that are just as interesting if not more important to our emotional, mental & spiritual wellbeing.

So today, I thought we would reflect upon the act of Remembering while exploring memories that may bring both gladness & sadness.

But first let’s grab our cuppa’s, a treat & get comfy. I’ve grabbed a mug of Australian Bush Herb tea & I felt like something savoury this morning, after all the sweet foods of Christmas, so I have a home baked gf Cheese, Herb & Sundried Tomato Muffin still warm from the oven, for our time together. What are you having my friend?

As you may know Explore is the word that stood out to me for this year (aka WOTY) as shared in last week’s post The Power of Words.

As I was pondering this theme, I must admit I got a little distracted, so decided to just pause & listen to a devotion by Pete Greig, & interestingly it was on Remembering.

I do enjoy listening to devotions instead of reading them at times, especially when I’m weary & lack energy. Do you?

Then a phrase on a stamp that I have for my papercrafts popped into my mind. It reads; “Remember to Explore”!

So let’s explore the word Remember which is an interesting word, one that Jesus used many times in His time on Earth & is used throughout scripture.

Does Remembering have a positive or negative impact? 

I think it would be fruitful to have the definition of what Remember actually means before we go any further. It is to;

1. have in or be able to bring to mind an awareness of someone or something from the past.
2. do something that one has undertaken to do or that is necessary or advisable to do. Ref

Hmmm, it’s interesting that this word has both present/past applications at the same time. 

Let’s make this personal…

As I write, my thoughts are on the past, as today is the date when I married my late husband Ed (it would have been our wedding anniversary). Delightful memories of our Ceremony are vividly playing through my mind, we were married in a little country Church that was nestled between the acres of our farm in the Australian Bush (maybe that’s why I chose Bush tea today) with friends & family in attendance.

I remember the absolute joy that day brought us & how we were both looking forward to many years together. Little did I know then that we would have such a short time of married life before Ed died of a very aggressive Brain Tumour (Cancer).

So remembering that day brings both joy & just a tinge of sadness (for it’s decades ago), joy in our wonderful life together & at the same time the residual grief of losing him.

Is remembering sadness, a negative or positive thing?

Grief can be a very healthy emotion as it helps us to express the love we have for the person who has passed, as love doesn’t end when our loved one passes. It just morphs into loving memories that bring a smile to our lips, joy to our heart & yes at times tears to our eyes.

However, there can be an unhealthy way of grieving, we know this in the Psychological & Counselling world as Complicated Grief, where a person doesn’t emotionally move from the moment their loved One passes for a prolonged period. And interrupts their ability to live a normalised life. Ref

Sadly Complicated Grief, if not professionally addressed, often leads to Clinical Depression & other Mental Health issues. If that’s you my friend or someone you know then read HERE.

However, for today’s reflection I’ll be concentrating on healthy grief. It’s something everyone desires to do when they’re losing or have lost someone dear but often have no idea how.

This was evident when I shared the death of my Dad in July last year, that post has become my most read post of all time;

The last Goodbye…

Remembering, feeling the joy & even the sadness, especially on significant anniversaries can help us gauge where we’re at in the grieving process (for it’s a life long process but should improve over time).

Grief helps us to come to terms with our loved one’s passing & to move forward in a healthy way. This does take time & will be different for each individual.

Although, there’s a common question that I’m asked by those who are in the early phases of grieving & that’s the following;

But Jennifer, how will I feel Joy again?

Well, there’s a promise we can claim & enact. I remember the Holy Spirit bringing this to my attention the morning of Ed’s funeral;

… “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks… This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Nehemiah 8:  10 NLT

After the service that day we did indeed celebrate Ed’s life with a Country spread, with family & friends, & delicious food & cuppa’s.

The Joy of the Lord has been my strength throughout the intervening years. Over time God completely filled the void left of Ed’s passing with His Joy, as He did when my daughter & son passed away. But the healing happens bit by bit, little by little until remembering becomes ever so sweet.

In allowing God’s love, comfort & strength in, filling my heart as we walked through the grief journey together, His Joy replaced the devastation & sadness of those early years.

Now I can wholeheartedly rejoice that Ed is indeed in the presence of the Lord, enjoying Eternity, no longer bound by the shackles of this world. And I praise God for the promised hope that we will see each other again one day in Glory.

If you’re grieiving my friend be kind to yourself & look to the One who loves you beyond your wildest imagination, Jesus Christ. Allow His Joy to be your strength & as I like to put it, His strength to be your Joy as you travel through the Valley of the Shadow of Death for He is already carrying you.

Until next time,

Jennifer

You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

or in Prayer

---

© 2025 Jennifer M. Ross, All Rights Reserved. Photo by Ivan Samkov on pexels.com

Blog Party link ups