Sunset in the Rear-view Mirror

Written by Sheryl Simons


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It had been 7 years sincerepparttar divorce, now. Home was an 80 year old farmhouse on a beautiful country road. I was remarried, now, to a peaceful soul like myself, whom I learned I could trust. We worked together on our home, remodeling, landscaping, building. We were constructing more than a house - a new life. My family was more understanding and my kids had weatheredrepparttar 111656 rough years ofrepparttar 111657 divorce, much as our farmhouse had weatheredrepparttar 111658 winds of time, and they were doing very well. A big lie, I'd learned was 'staying together forrepparttar 111659 sake ofrepparttar 111660 children'. My children had now learned that everyone deserved respect, even Mom. All was peaceful, again. I traveled throughrepparttar 111661 little town I live near, and headed home. Almost home. I'd learned what marriage was really all about. As head ofrepparttar 111662 household, a man was meant to lead, but not bully or push - not manipulate, threaten and criticize. He was to be someone who could be respected and honored; a man of character and commitment. No matter how much pain a person has endured, we have a choice to let that pain control us. Power and control meant nothing to a man who was committed to 'love as Christ lovedrepparttar 111663 Church'. My husband was a gentle shepherd, not a drill sergeant. Not far from home, I climbed a hill and suddenly was stirred out of my reverie. A brilliant sunset, more brilliant that any I'd ever seen shrieked at me fromrepparttar 111664 rear view mirror. The vibrant oranges and vivid pinks held me spellbound. I rounded a turn atrepparttar 111665 top ofrepparttar 111666 hill and pulled torepparttar 111667 side ofrepparttar 111668 road. With tears streaming down my face, I witnessed God's awesome creativity at work. I also knew exactly what He was trying to tell me at that very moment. While I was going through those hard times, He knew what I didn't. He knew that one day I would look back and seerepparttar 111669 brilliant master plan. He didn't put me throughrepparttar 111670 abuse, but he used it to create a masterpiece - one I couldn't see atrepparttar 111671 time, but only when I looked back on it, afterrepparttar 111672 passage of time. I'd weatheredrepparttar 111673 storm and He was right there with me allrepparttar 111674 time. I was never alone. I sat for several moments, drinking inrepparttar 111675 beauty ofrepparttar 111676 incredible sunset that night. I eased back onrepparttar 111677 road and rounded another bend. That sunset followed me allrepparttar 111678 way home inrepparttar 111679 rear view mirror just as God had never left me alone. How nice to be home.

Sheryl Simons



Sheryl lives with her husband Richard and youngest son Andrew in Northern Michigan. She loves gardening and works part time at a women's shelter and for a local newspaper. She is writing several fiction and non-fiction books about domestic violence.




"Mended Heart"

Written by Gail Pursell Elliott


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A broken heart can be mended if it is acknowledged as a real injury and not brushed off as something that will take care of itself in time if left alone. Those of us who have mended hearts have often had to develop our own treatment protocols, some more effective than others. And afterward, like a broken bone that has healed, there is always some residual evidence ofrepparttar trauma. Even if what was broken ends up being stronger than it was before.

Anyone who has suffered from a 'broken heart' will tell you that they would rather have a broken arm. It hurts less, heals faster and you get more help with it.

Have a Great Day and be good to yourself. You deserve it!

Gail

RESOURCES: If you or someone you know needs to accessrepparttar 111655 healing power of forgiveness or help in healing from grief, here are some excellent resources.

Forgiveness Workshops - "Connecting With The Healing Light of Forgiveness" Donna Kopitsy, MA, MSW, LUT http://www.unitycommunitymall.com/workshops Contact Donna today to arrange a workshop for your group!

Crisis, Grief, and Healing - Tom Golden, LCSW www.webhealing.com A website packed with information, links and more!

Tom Golden's wonderful book "Swallowed By A Snake: The Gift ofrepparttar 111656 Masculine Side of Healing" can be ordered throughrepparttar 111657 Innovations website click on Books and Posters www.innovations-training.com

Online Audio Workshops featuring: Sam Keen - "Living With Death" Rabbi Kushner - "When Bad Things Happen To Good People" Tom Attig - "Relearning The World" Tom Golden - "Men and Grief" www.griefceu.com Sit back and listen through your computer to some ofrepparttar 111658 world's best presenters onrepparttar 111659 topic of healing from loss.



Speaker, Author, Educator, Human Resources and Training Consultant, Gail Pursell Elliott is president and founder of Innovations "Training With A Can-Do Attitude"TM - Promoting Dignity and Respect, No Exceptions, in companies and communities nationwide. To receive Food For Thought messages via email join the website mailing list at www.innovations-training.com Contact Gail at info@innovations-training.com


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