Confessions

Oh the sweet relief.

This week is “take down all the Christmas decorations at the church” week for me. It’s a big project that is less enjoyable than putting it up, but nevertheless has to be done. It feels much more like a chore, but today it became a blessing for me.

I was sorting and organizing tablecloths at the moment. It didn’t require much brain space and naturally, my mind was spinning away on all it’s normal worries. I heard the squeak of the door and turned to see who was entering. A sweet face popped into the frame, “I’ll be right in to help with whatever you need!” she said.

As the morning progressed, we chatted about her grandchildren, my kids, and current health struggles. All the common conversations to be expected in that situation. But in each one of them, she offered a bit of information that was a little bit deeper than your surface level chit chat. Her questions to me were gentle, but in her demeanor and from the information she offered me, I knew she was capable of another level of conversation if I were open to it.

Little by little my stories shook loose. It felt like minutes as the hours ticked by and by the end, I was sad to have to leave her presence.

Then she said “I’ll send you a check for this therapy appointment! It was much needed for me!”

I laughed and told her I’d sign it right back over to her to cover her own services on the occasion. Giggling, we commiserated about the need to get things off our chest. The need to VOICE the things swirling around inside of us.

“It’s the tucking it in to the dark corners that does the most damage. We have to bring these things into the light.” She said.

Oh friends, THIS IS THE TRUTH.

So often we struggle within ourselves to quiet the beast by hushing and shushing. But it only gets bigger and hungrier as we feed it our thoughts and failures. By giving it a name, and calling it out, we can SEE IT for what it is. We can address it and learn how it functions and in so doing we can find peace.

It’s no coincidence that I have had it on my heart to create a journal for this purpose. No coincidence that only just YESTERDAY my journal was approved by the publisher and listed on Amazon. That’s just the perfect timing of the Lord. So that today, along with a fresh perspective on the absolute need for confession (even if only to ourselves for now) I can offer it to you.

Update-

Making this journal was so fun I decided to make a few more.. here are those links as well!

Drop me a line a comment and let me know your favorite!