Transitions and Rubber Duckies

My kids were always fascinated that they couldn’t sink their rubber ducky. Regardless of how hard they pushed it to the bottom of the tub or how long they sat on it, the toy resurfaced. It’s the law of the rubber ducky!

This law applies to life transitions. Transitions, like rubber duckies, involve feelings which will surface no matter how hard we try to keep them down! Ignoring what is lost in an effort to move forward sounds good but it isn’t healthy emotionally. We can’t truly embrace the new without saying good-by to what is gone.

Not long ago I failed to grieve some transitions and became overburdened emotionally. Each change seemed small, but they built up, eventually becoming a huge pile of loss. Finally, at a spiritual retreat

Risky Love

When we give our hearts away to someone else, we lose control over what happens. We risk hurt and loss because we never know how it will turn out. I’m sure all of us have loved and lost at some point; dumped by a guy, turned on by a friend, or left behind through death.  The pain of loss can be great at times, and the more we love the deeper the grief. To protect ourselves from situations that may lead to hurt, we may isolate our hearts, not allowing ourselves to connect on a deep level unless we feel safe and certain. But what do we miss by allowing our fears to drive us?

My friend Jenn is losing her struggle with breast cancer. For the past year she has done all humanly possible to fight the disease and has asked God to do a miracle. For reasons that only God knows, He hasn’t given a miracle and her battle is almost over. Although she will experience the complete healing for which we prayed, it will be as she enters the presence of Jesus and not here.

In the midst of her valiant fight, God sent John.