Tag: music

Thy Will Be Done

So I’ve been struggling with mental health issues for about 20 years. It started when I was a teenager and there were a lot of family issues going on that caused a great turmoil in my heart. And it just kind of grew from there. I’ve been diagnosed with severe, chronic depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and generalized and social anxiety disorders. I’ve seen countless doctors and I’ve tried almost every medication available for these issues over the years, and this past year I started a new venture of getting electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). The treatments have helped some, but every day is still a struggle.

I share all of this not to draw attention to myself and my difficulties, but to something the Lord has been teaching me through it. I’ve been hearing a song on the radio that really resonates with me and with what I’ve been going through. Take a moment to listen to it – you might enjoy it. Song: Hillary Scott’s “Thy Will”   But basically it talks about how it’s so hard sometimes to understand what God has allowed into our lives…and we may never understand until heaven. But the cry of our hearts should always be: “Thy will be done.” No matter what we’re going through, we can always trust that our heavenly Father will bring good out of it.

So whatever you’re going through today – whatever trials are taking your breath away with the pain that they cause – whatever situations are testing you to the limit…just know that God will, in His own timing, work it out according to His perfect plan.

Don’t Be Afraid to Crawl

“Like a new born baby
Don’t be afraid to crawl…”

As I drove home tonight after meeting with my family and a good friend, I heard a song that has always been special to me. The lyrics speak to me, in their honest simplicity–but it was a single line of those lyrics that jumped out at me this time. “Like a new born baby, don’t be afraid to crawl.”

I have been wanting to try some craft projects, with the possibility of even making some items to sell. But I thought I’d start by creating a set of coasters for a special couple for Christmas. Well, Christmas has come and gone, and I had not even begun making the coasters–until tonight. That line of text in the song and some encouragement from my friend nudged me to move forward.

So I got out my supplies and tried my best to make a gift that this special couple would like. It will be a set of four coasters with a Christmas theme. I used stamp and ink along with permanent markers to create images on travertine tiles. Now I must bake the tiles to set the ink, and add felt backings so that the coasters will not damage furniture. Travertine tile is an absorbent material, so it should be very practical for holding drinks.

Here are what the tiles look like so far:

Merry-Christmas-Tony-and-Susan-coasters-2014

The point of this post is to share my joy in the fact that I was able to begin a project that seemed overwhelming for quite some time. I’m grateful for the gentle–and yet clear–nudging, which gave me the motivation to start “crawling.” 🙂 Who knows, maybe my crawl will progress into steps, and even into a walk? We shall see! God is good, and I praise Him for what He enabled me to accomplish.

Lyrics from Untitled Hymn, by Chris Rice

Photo Credit for image of baby crawling: Tatjana Kaufmann/Moment/Getty Images

I Can See a Light

I’ve been feeling pretty depressed the past several days. Yesterday was especially bad. I went up on one of my medications recently, so that could definitely be affecting me…along with other factors. But I was able to go to my therapist appointment today and talk some things out, which was very helpful.

As I was driving home from my appointment I treated myself to a Snicker-doodle latte at Dunkin Donuts (I had a coupon, of course 😉 !) and one of their new croissants/donuts with a chocolate drizzle. It’s amazing how little things like this can lift your spirits! I think that’s one of the things that has been pulling me down lately: I haven’t been taking the time to do the things that I enjoy. I just haven’t felt like doing them! Well, I pretty much haven’t felt like doing anything. But I’ve learned in the past and need to put back into practice the fact that when I don’t feel like taking care of myself, I need to do it anyway–and the enjoyment will come eventually. 🙂

I’m just so thankful for the support of my family and my close friends…and most importantly, for God. Without them and without God, I really don’t think I would make it. I am just in awe of the fact that the Lord doesn’t let me go–doesn’t give up on me, even when I give up on Him, in a sense. He’s so faithful, and I pray that I never forget this!

If you’re feeling down today, take at least a few minutes to do something that you enjoy–even if you don’t feel like it. It may seem like a chore at first, but I hope that the pleasure would come as you push forward through the mud and the muck. And depression IS a pit of mud and muck. You constantly have to crawl out of it. But thank God that we have Him to not only help us crawl out, but to lift us up on all sides and set us on our feet again. May we always remember the times in the past that He has come to our aide, and trust that He will do the same in our current situation, and for everything that we encounter in the future! ❤

Image Credit: Unknown