Hours turn into days
Thoughts quickly fade to a haze
Food becomes comfort
Movements become less
Thoughts are sporadically up and down
Emotions flickering from hope to helpless
Knowing full well hope and help exist
Seeing the path needed but feeling powerless to pursue it
Wanting to be alone but comforted too
Feeling and sensing that this was coming for several days
As one who watches and anticipates devastating weather events
No matter the planning everyone knows the inevitable will happen
Depression slowly seeps into the cracks and crevices of the human existence
The harder one fights
The deeper one gets tangled in the desperate clutches of depressions hold
Much like someone being stuck in quicksand
The harder one fights to get out
The faster one sinks into its bottomless pit
One does not choose depression
Depression chooses and seeks out to destroy and devour individuals
All with no visible or invisible signs remorse
Recognizing the signs of depression creeping into ones existence
This is the best defense in taking its powers
Create alternative ways to divert and lessen depressions grip
Just because depression can happen
Doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for its arrival.

You might just surprise yourself with your abilities to be proactive and no solely reactive. Having a plan to reduce depression’s effects on you will take the power from depression and place it in your hands.
Continue to challenge yourself and learning about who you are, you are worthy, you valuable and most of all you are loved. God specifically and uniquely created you for a purpose and He promises to always be with you.
YOU MATTER! YOU ARE LOVED!

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Crisis Services | 24-Hour Help Hotline – Crisis Call Center
http://www.crisiscallcenter.org

Hotlines – Teen Health and Wellness
http://www.teenhealthandwellness.com/static/hotlines

~Blessings and Peace~

 

Do you ever have days where you just feel like you need more love in your life? I’m not talking “love” in the sense of romantic love. I mean love as it relates to the validation of your personhood, reinforcement that you contribute to the world in positive ways, recognition that you matter in small ways and big ways, or just to receive blessings by way of smiles from strangers, hugs from friends, and praise for being the person you are and being exceptional at being you! Most of us would agree there’s nothing wrong with receiving validation, reinforcement and blessings. The problem can sometimes come from seeking validation, reinforcement and recognition/blessings. I would venture to say a significant number of people reading this will be able to identify with the needs and desires for validation from people in our lives such as our family, friends, co-workers, church community, bosses, mailman/women, our favorite restaurants servers, postal carrier, supervisors…the list can be these things and/or many others. My point is when we rely on others to make us feel better about ourselves, we will always be disappointed. I have struggled with this issue on and off for as long as I can remember. I absolutely know that I matter, that I have a purpose, that there’s a plan for my life through Christ Jesus, but…really, there should never be a “but” following truth and trust in Jesus Christ. So why do some of us go into this self-destruct mode? Recently, I have been seeing lots of pictures and photos on Twitter that remind me, I am a child of God and He wants to love me as a parent loves and cares for their children. God also wants us to trust Him and to take the time and patience to love ourselves. I hope these words and photos provide you with encouragement and confidence to love yourself but most importantly that God loves you. I know this can be a difficult task to accomplish but you can do this, you are so WORTH it!

~Blessings and Peace~