Love Restores Joy

Love restores joy.

Loss is defined as a failure to keep (or to continue to have) something, but if "every good gift" is "from above" -- all originating in the one Source of Being, God, -- then in reality, nothing can ever be lost. Love can never be lost, nor can we be separated from Love.

Take a moment with this spiritual fact. Put aside the personal sense for just a little while in favor of realizing Love's presence with you right now, right where you are -- full and complete and pure. Let yourself feel the embrace of the gentle Light of Love. This Love of the universe fills all space and consciousness -- it waits only for us to be silent momentarily and listen -- and feel after it.

Love is infinite. You cannot get away from it. It cannot be lost. You are stuck with it.

Love comforts and uplifts. It makes you all right. It helps you to function in first days of grief. It replaces grief with consoling tenderness and finally, joy. The joy is in the presence of Love, and if you are worried over another who may be having difficulties, or who may have passed on, take these quiet meditative moments to consciously realize him/her in this Light of Love, this tender ever-presence -- safe. There is no place where Love is  not. It's warmth is absolutely everywhere throughout all time and through all space.

Love swallows up the black hole; the black hole does not swallow you. Jesus said, "Nothing shall by any means hurt you," and nothing shall by any means separate you from Love, Love, and more Love.

It is your job to reflect and express this Love and spread it freely through a smile, a gentle word, an unselfish deed. When you feel most down, reflect and express Love more. Lift up another and you will be lifted up yourself. Love restores joy.

Scope of Grief and What to Do

Scope of Grief and What to Do

We grieve all kinds of loss, not just death, but loss of job, career, home, family, friends, a car, a cherished possession, and so forth. Loss of harmony in a relationship or loss of a marriage is incredibly upsetting. Not only this, but everyone that has to do with the situation feels the impact.

We cannot take grieving off like we can take off a jacket and leave it at home. It seems to be stuck with us. Therefore we need to find ways to handle it, so it does not take over and overwhelm us to the point of debilitating hurt. In many cases, especially soon after an intense event, it is normal to find ourselves in tears or in a state of depression, but if we build a strong base  spiritually we can withstand and overcome that which would otherwise seem unbearable.

In the case of a death, moving away from emotional agony actually honors the individual who has passed and who more than likely desires that you will be "all right" and that you "recover." Giving your consent to function normally at right activities, to take care of yourself and others, and to move forward with purpose and joy again -- allowing for these things -- opens the way for recovery.

It was and is important for me to realize that my husband, who passed away ten years ago, desires that I live happy and full days with purpose. Would you not want this for ones you love? I was able to consent to recovery and begin to act more freely in everyday life by holding to this thought. Perhaps if you think about this in your own case, it will help you too. Emotions will run up and down during this process, but it is a stable base to accept and hold to the fact that we wish for happiness and well-being for those we love -- whether here or hereafter -- this truth remains because it is grounded in universal divine Love.

There are times it will be good to be left alone. There are times when screaming into a pillow is good therapy! There are times when forcing yourself to be still, pray, meditate, and calm yourself in silence, is the best. Try to align with the divine, with Spirit and Love, and feel after His direction, feel after His comforting.

These ideas work as well for loss of job, of reputation, of money, home, a friendship -- whatever it is that causes grief or upset.

One should not be alone altogether, however. We need opportunities to share memories and emotions, to share fears and hopes, to be with a positive supportive person -- friend or professional -- but someone who actually cares. Be careful that you confide only in those you feel you can trust and who are naturally positive -- not negative.

Support must continue for a long time. If you are supporting another who has suffered loss, remember to check with that individual over a period of months, and even years. Just the fact that you are there and accessible brings an element of Love that is healing and comforting.

Resolution Sure of Success

My New Year's Resolution is to assimilate and express the qualities of love as found in I Corinthians 13: 1-13. Reviewing the past series on the healing power of Love, including sage insights from Henry Drummond's, The Greatest Thing in the Word, equips us for this resolution. You will see Drummond's specific challenge to us in the last paragraph of this blog. Let's resolve together to take him up on it and see what happens.

Know that today Love is ready to complete its healing action within you in some particular situation of your life or condition of health. The greatest healer in the world, Christ Jesus, instructed us to ask and to believe that we receive. Ask for the endowment of Love through the Holy Spirit. Ask that it permeate consciousness and overflow from your heart. Conform your words and actions to this Love. I Corinthians explains the ingredients of Love. We have them all for the expressing!

Put your pure desires, requests, and wishes in the Father's hands and affirm that He is caring for us perfectly through His law with harmonious and wise adjustments and precise timing. Trust and be grateful. Put your burden at His feet. Gratitude and expectation open the way for healing emotionally and physically.

 This blog post concludes our series on Love's healing based on I Corinthians 13:

1Cor. 13:1 ¶ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

1Cor. 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

1Cor. 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

1Cor. 13:4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

1Cor. 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

1Cor. 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

1Cor. 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

1Cor. 13:8 ¶ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

1Cor. 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

1Cor. 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

1Cor. 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

1Cor. 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

1Cor. 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

Henry Drummond, concluding his remarks on I Corinthians 13, in his short book, The Greatest Thing in the World, challenges us to take action. He writes, "Now I have all but finished. How many of you will join me in reading this chapter once a week for the next three months? A man did that once and it changed his whole life. Will you do it? It is for the greatest thing in the world. You might begin by reading it every day, especially the verses which describe the perfect character. “Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself.” Get these ingredients into your life. Then everything that you do is eternal. It is worth doing. It is worth giving time to" (21). You may want to read over the past series of blogs focusing on the healing power of Love as herein described. Commit to three months as Drummond advises, and see if you do not have more joy, health, and peace in this new year! This is a resolution sure of success!

Drummond, Henry (2011-01-01). The Greatest Thing in the World, Experience the Enduring Power of Love (p. 21). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.