Memories can be powerful. For many the most salient memories are those that are traumatic. For example, the morning I got the call of my husband’s death while I was on a business trip seems to stand out in vivid detail. It is one I have relived many times since I got “the call” that changed my life forever. I’ve shed many tears and prayed many prayers asking the Lord to carry that sorrow.
The good news with memories is that while there are painful ones, there are also so many warm and loving ones. In fact, as we head into the March I have so many warm ones around our wedding on March 17th and the places we traveled.
One of the places where we went right after we were first married was Puntarenas, Costa Rica. I’ve shared the picture shown above to revive the hope memories. It is winter here where I live but I can take a mental journey to the warmth of this beach and the sound of the waves. As I relax into that memory I find myself smiling and feeling blessed.
If you have suffered great loss, be sure to mourn fully. Feel the pain, the sorrow and the emptiness and then invite the Lord into that place of pain. He wants to transform the coldness and despair with His love and hope. As you cry tears – feel the pain fully – and then offer that sorrow to Him. He will carry it for you.
I love the power of hope memories. Our memories can take us back to warm, happy places filled with love and sunshine. This can be very hard for some people because they have so much pain in their lives. When we find those places coming up in our lives, we can choose to ignore it or we can invite the Lord into those places. His perspective makes all the difference in the world.
Author, speaker, corporate trainer, ordained minister and Hope Catalyst, Karen Sebastian enjoys sharing her rich life experiences with others – engaging them in adventurous discoveries of the beauty of hope in a dark, cloudy world. To increase hope and improve relationships with yourself and those that you love, click here.
