Letting Go Creates Beautiful Stories
Posted August 4, 2021 by Theresa Miller
Categories: Featured, Sister Post
Letting Go Creates Story
“I know I’ll cry when he walks me down the aisle to my seat, the way I cried when I walked down the isle on my wedding day. I know I’ll be a mess when we dance our mother/son dance at the reception, which is why we will swing dance and laugh, too. I know our children—his five siblings—will cry throughout the week like they did when he went off to college. But I want them to know through my tears and their own that it’s okay to cry. Crying is beautiful.”
Embracing change can be hard. I’ve cried many tears through change, but we were made for this. We were made to allow God to mature and change us through our tears. It opens the door to newness of life and beauty. The tears and laughter that go along with the process of letting go create the stories of our lives.”
I want them to know, through my tears and their own, that it’s okay to cry.
—Sarah
Letting Go is Letting God
My mother-in-law sits bravely with her mother as I write, and her mother’s body fails. She describes this side of letting go like agony in the wait.
It is a process, this letting go. We know full well that it is not a one time deal when a child leaves home or when we marry one off. Letting go is multifaceted and one of the hardest things we do over and over again until the very end.
Yet on the other side of letting go is much joy, freedom, beauty and life lived well. Letting go is a process from the time a child enters this world to the point one leaves. It can feel like the hardest thing we must do in this life, yet letting go is beautiful when we allow that process to unfold.
Ultimately, letting go is (bravely) letting God take the reins and trusting Him completely with our stories.
Letting go is letting God take the reins and trusting Him completely with our stories.
—Theresa
Letting Go Means Surrender
Brain surgery taught me the meaning of letting go. Letting go has meant surrendering to God’s will. It doesn’t always look like we think it should. I have learned that in order for God to really work in my life and to experience His peace, I need to give over my thoughts and ideas of what I think the outcome should be in a certain situation. When we let go, there is always something greater waiting.
Letting go has meant surrendering to God’s will.
—Jeannette
Letting Go is Embracing What Is
The process of letting go begins the moment you start anything new: a job, birth of a child, graduations, weddings, and even aging. Letting go is accepting what was, embracing what is, and being excited for what is still to come. When we can look back at all that we have learned and accomplished, the letting go process makes sense.
We must find the gift in the letting go process even when it’s tough. Perspective often plays a role in our ability let go and be excited about what is to come. Embrace change with the knowledge that no matter how much we fret, worry, or attempt to control, we are not in control.
Lean in, love deeply, keep an open heart and let hope lead you in the unknowns. Letting go is part of our stories.
Letting go is accepting what was, embracing what is, and being excited for what is still to come.
—Maureen
What has letting go meant for you? We invite you to share in the comments.
So beautiful! I love the different perspectives.
Thank you, Laura. We learn so much from our different experiences and perspectives, as well!
Thank you, Laura!❤️
I have had to learn to let go of a lot in the last 16 years. It started when the Rottweiler tried to take my right (dominate) arm off in 2015. I had to learn to do everything with my left hand, and I couldn’t see why God let it happen. Then in 2017 I ripped my right shoulder apart when I tripped of one of my dogs as I hurried to see why my grandson was screaming outside. It turned out he was playing hide and seek with the Jack Russell, he would hide and scream to get the dig to come look for him. The damage to my shoulder was catastrophic and required 2 surgeries to repair what they could. Because of the Rottweiler, I already could use my left hand for anything I needed to do. During my time injured the doctors discovered I was a diabetic who needed insulin in order to continue to live. The damage kept me from dying. I have also developed Fibromyalgia. At first I was devastated as the pain kept me from doing many of the things I loved to do. I could no longer walk all over town as I used to, (6-7 miles at a time) I couldn’t stand long enough to work as a cashier or anything else. I am having to rewrite my life in many ways, and I always ask God what He thinks and I am always surprised by the answers. Right now, I am learning patience and how to cope with severe anxiety and depression. It has kept me from church, but it has not kept me from God. He has been right here, teaching, listening comforting, guiding and leading me. I would not wish anyone to have to go through some of the things I have unless I knew that they could meet God as I have. Sometimes when I search for Him I have to remember that to find Him all I must do is look up and open the robe He has wrapped around me. If I knew that everyone could get this close, then I could wish them some of the struggles I have been through. Instead, I wish them to feel God’s love through their knowing me. Diane C.
We are so sorry for what you have been through. It is beautiful the way it sounds like your struggles have brought you closer to God. We will hold you in our prayers!
Diane, thank you for sharing your story and how you pursue God in the struggle. It’s beautiful!
Oh Diane. I totally understand your pain but also the part of wanting people to experience the closeness to God that only come with extreme suffering. When our priest found out I had thyroid cancer after my brain tumor he said “ God must love you very much!” I understood what he meant but not many would. God bless you in your suffering. I will pray for you.
So beautiful and such a beautiful reminder!
Thank you, Sheryl. And thank you for pausing to comment!