my daughter and i have a beautiful garden so close we walk!

this weekend we went and while it was brown

and mostly dead instead of full of color and life

the work and love that goes into that place in-season causes

peace and joy to spring forth even in off seasons, love that!

i saw a sign this time too that I'd missed last fall on our visits

or it is new - and it said, 

"As soon as healing takes place, 

go out & heal somebody else."

by Maya Angelou

love that too!

and i see healing emotionally that God has done deeply in me and i also

have been gifted the best thing in dark seasons which is someone who, because their pain has

been similar - understands - and the sharing of our journeys lightens both our loads... 

wow, even as i write it, 

i'm amazed at the gift of our crossed path

it is a very sure mixture of bittersweet
for the pain present is witnessed and so too the joy

it is death and life intertwining in a human friendship

and that is why i call the path miraculous

i want to share a book called
"Women Who Love Too Much," 

by Robin Norwood.

after my first divorce, i saw a counselor...
i'll never forget the recommendation of this book!

i'd only had one session with her and it truly felt like I'd 

summarized my reason for coming in by just skimming the surface

so as i started reading, my first thought was, 

"what did I share that made me look like such a hot mess?,"  

because the stories in this book were hard for me to read... in fact - 

during that time in my life - i read the book, but it was a chore - 

and I'd read a chapter and think, "well maybe I'll relate to the next chapter"

fast forward to the break up of my first and only serious dating experience prior to my 2nd marriage, where, just before that relationship unexpectedly ended, i'd picked up the book again... good night! - it was like I understood everything perfectly this 2nd go around - like that relationship had been the switch that turned the light on for me or more like the "lab portion" that i had to experience and then go back and reread the text book again - btw I hated labs in college! bahaha!

in that season - this book was like the Bible to me! 
it made sense of all my whirling emotions and brought to life
patterns I'd seen in myself really my whole life! 

one of the things I remember reading in the book, this second time, was in the very beginning where the author said a lot of times the women who need the book the most have the hardest time knowing they need it and the book doesn't resonate with them... wow! that was the case for me for sure

*****

in my current season of the unexpected death of my daughter's father (who was my husband for 16 years and ex-husband for 6) and being one year out now from my 2nd divorce, I've had this book pop back into my mind randomly lately... why not read it again?!?  I gave the book away probably 4 years ago but I may just repurchase and have at it - I know it would bring new revelation

maybe a book purchase for you too!

because you are strong enough
to hear the pain of another woman's story, see your own within it,

and live beyond the silence on the path Truth already made

in the midst of the journey,

pain screams failure
but sharing brings 

understanding 

& that is right where Healing's 

sneakiest, best paths pop up

i'm paraphasing something i never forgot from my 2nd read

 of women who love too much - and that was Robin

 Norwood saying something of this sort:

There's healing where you see & then 

there is a second part, where you live.

yep,

reread #3

will be happening

for me