Even though you know the news is coming, you are never quite prepared for it.
The first thing I wanted to do after hearing about my step-brother's death, was to write out my reflections (process). Then, I dug into my stash of old pictures.
Especially if it's a picture of a loved one who has just passed out of this life and into the next.
What do these photos say?
Why do they bring so much comfort?
I wanted to scan in and share on Facebook an album of pictures from growing up with my step-brother, Greg, on our Nebraska farm. I found just eight pictures at first.
When I looked at these photos of him as a little boy, and me as a big sister, sweet memories came flooding back.
How Greg had that silly wink-grin he'd do quite often.
His sense of humor.
The way he was a big brother to my little brother.
But, as I got ready to hit "post album" I hesitated.
How would my step mom feel to see these? Would it hurt her more? Would it make the grieving worse?
I wasn't sure, but I took the risk.
That night she left a message on my phone, "Thank you for posting those old pictures. They are just precious. We are downloading them to use on a picture board at the memorial service."
I called her the next day and I admitted that I was hesitant to post them. She said, "Oh no, I loved seeing them."
I do believe we need to be very cautious about what we post on the internet.
But, sometimes I swing to the conservative extreme out of fear of not "saying it right" or "doing it right." Because I'm "not perfect."
These are my old tapes.
In thinking about whether to post the picture memories, I had to ask myself,
I admitted that it wasn't to bring attention to myself at all. It was to encourage my family.
To bring joy.
To help us remember the good times.
So, I took the risk of showing up, being seen and living brave by sharing these treasures I found.
Let's post the joyful memories if it feels right and if we have peace about it.
Let's speak the joyful word.
Let's send the note.
And, let's be the encouragement this world so desperately needs.
The first thing I wanted to do after hearing about my step-brother's death, was to write out my reflections (process). Then, I dug into my stash of old pictures.
Why do we say that a picture is worth a thousand words? Because it is.
Especially if it's a picture of a loved one who has just passed out of this life and into the next.
What do these photos say?
Why do they bring so much comfort?
I wanted to scan in and share on Facebook an album of pictures from growing up with my step-brother, Greg, on our Nebraska farm. I found just eight pictures at first.
When I looked at these photos of him as a little boy, and me as a big sister, sweet memories came flooding back.
How Greg had that silly wink-grin he'd do quite often.
But, as I got ready to hit "post album" I hesitated.
How would my step mom feel to see these? Would it hurt her more? Would it make the grieving worse?
I wasn't sure, but I took the risk.
That night she left a message on my phone, "Thank you for posting those old pictures. They are just precious. We are downloading them to use on a picture board at the memorial service."
I called her the next day and I admitted that I was hesitant to post them. She said, "Oh no, I loved seeing them."
I do believe we need to be very cautious about what we post on the internet.
But, sometimes I swing to the conservative extreme out of fear of not "saying it right" or "doing it right." Because I'm "not perfect."
These are my old tapes.
In thinking about whether to post the picture memories, I had to ask myself,
"What's my heart behind this?"
I admitted that it wasn't to bring attention to myself at all. It was to encourage my family.
To bring joy.
To help us remember the good times.
So, I took the risk of showing up, being seen and living brave by sharing these treasures I found.
Let's post the joyful memories if it feels right and if we have peace about it.
Let's speak the joyful word.
Let's send the note.
And, let's be the encouragement this world so desperately needs.
"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances."
Proverbs 25:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."
I Thessalonians 5:11
Blessings to you,
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