Hurricane Empress: Our Happily Ever After

My father took many photographs of us growing up and I found them to be a real sense of comfort during difficult times growing up. If I had a particularly difficult day I could always count on those photos to pull me out of a sad or angry mood. Photos are usually always taken of fun times and things we want to remember so it isn't difficult to see why they would cause my mind to meditate on pleasant memories instead of the difficulty of the moment.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

I always tease that my pictures are my anti-depressant but actually I got into the habit of looking through photos any time I felt any negative emotion. There are days when I miss someone who has passed away or circumstances have removed them from my life and I will take out the photographs and remember special memories together. It brings me joy instantly to relive those moments and I am grateful to God for His goodness. Even though I may have been robbed of my relationships in life through death and circumstances, I am grateful that no one can rob me of my memories. We have to find healthy ways to control our emotions so they don’t take control of us.

The scriptures are another way I find hope in the midst of any circumstance. This week I am reading the book of Ruth which is a beautiful love story but it certainly did not start out that way at all. The story begins with the death of Naomi's husband and two sons. Ruth 1:5b so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. We have all had losses but so many at one time? This is a beautiful story on how God turns the most difficult of circumstances into a happily ever after. We need to always trust God for our own "Happily Ever After."