Emotions are Our Friends

We dropped Caleb off at the University of Central Missouri yesterday morning.  After getting him settled, we left and came home.  He has started a new chapter of his life.  It was the reverse of when they handed us baby Elizabeth and told us to take her home from the hospital on the most dreary of February days.  I didn’t feel ready to be a parent, and yesterday, with the warm sun shining on us, I didn’t feel ready to end my active parenting responsibilities.  But, we adjusted to being Elizabeth’s parents, and we’ll adjust to Caleb being away at school. 

This summer I’ve been preaching an emotional sermon to myself.  Like other people, I must welcome all of my emotions.  My emotions should be felt, celebrated and seen for what they are.  They are not to be ignored, distrusted or bullied into submission. 

Yelling at our emotions is like yelling at our loved ones.  It might feel good in the instant to lash out at something unreasonable.  In the end, I’ll get farther if I treat my emotions like the fragile toddler they are.  I try to offer my emotions a quiet afternoon walk with our dog, a couple of deep breaths in my car, or a tasty snack of peanut butter and homegrown tomatoes on toast.  I meet friends at The Russell for dinner, read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, or watch Good Omens 2, all things which are making me happy this week. 

I also turn to Morgan Harper Nichols who says,

Just in case no one has told you lately…

You are allowed to change your mind.  You are allowed to dream a new dream.

You are allowed to wander ‘til the forest becomes a tapestry where fireflies dance at the seams.

You don’t have to figure it all out at once…You are allowed to learn and grow as you go.

For there are small, yet beautiful things that are still blooming and worth noticing on some of the longest most winding roads.

You are free to pace yourself as night falls and winds rush in and as you wait for morning, you are free to breathe deeply again and again…

May you find joy on the journey, in a thousand little ways you didn’t expect.

May you find room to exhale before you know what comes next.

You are allowed to imagine the journey ahead as a space where you will continue learning to fly and to be free

You are free to have gratitude right here, while still having bold hope for what could be.

Creator,

As we grow and change, help us to take care of our emotions the way we would take care of a sick child, with care, concern, and love.  Help us to know that Jesus works only for our good.  Grace to us this week.  May we find it, and may we give it to others.

Amen

Michelle is a Program Analyst with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She’s a wife, mother, sister, and friend, a chocolate and coffee lover, reader of books, listener of podcasts, and a travel enthusiast.

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The Little Things