Monday, October 13, 2008

A walk through the Valley...

I was thinking about my post the other day, you know the one, where the lady commented on my necklace...something I said to her about a part of me dying with Maddux, really struck a chord with me, and I have been thinking about that sentence ever since...Then today I came across this verse: Yea though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death... Damn! I recgonize that place! I have been there, I thought. Remember when I said that only MY death could take away my pain? The first memories I have of this valley, are horrible. Painful. Lonely. Heartbroken. Utter Dispair and Darkness. I have spent alot of time in this valley. Seriously...Summers, Falls, Winters, and Springs. Summer Vacations, Christmas', Birthdays (several), Spring Breaks, New Years Eves, Presidents Days, Columbus Days...I have been to Cheerleading Competitions and Baseball Games in this Valley...I have even hosted my children's Birthday Parties in this Valley...Hell, I have even gone to therapy in this Valley...(LOL) But in this valley I have also found something else. I found Faith. I found Hope. I found Strength. I found Healing. I found Peace. And something I never expected to find in this valley was friendship. Who would have thought you could find friendship in the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Have you ever been through this valley? I mean, really been there? Not just seen a picture, and said, Yeah, I know that place... Do you know someone right now who is walking through that valley? What can you do for them? How can you help them? In their darkness, in their need, be there for them, be a light. People in this valley, may not see the light right away, may not choose to see the light right away, but neverless, keep your light burning. One day when they can open their eyes again they will see your glow. They will follow that light...'For light does the darkness most fear..' I still choose to visit this valley somedays. It is a familiar place to me now. Sometimes a comforting place to me. Do I want to live in this valley? No...I don't even want a condo in this valley. But do I have friends that are living in this valley right now? Yes. All I can do is hope and pray that my light is shining bright.


Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Ps 23:4-6

My cup runneth over...oh, how I love those words.

3 comments:

boltefamily said...

So true! The valley is a tough place to be, but God ALWAYS shows up there!

Linda said...

and in the valley you were there...only half way out of the valley but strong enough to turn around and holler back...come on Linda you can do it!

I did it Cheryl and I did it because of Mom's like you!

I'm not in the valley today but on the days I'm there I promise the good LORD I'll try to help someone else out.

Love ya girly!!!

Stephanie said...

Wow! What an awesome post. I have been in and out of the valley most of my life. We had 8 miscarriages and lost a baby girl, Destiny, at 23 weeks gestation. All back to back. I lived in the valley with very little light because no one knew what to say or do. They wanted me to give up but I didn't.

Four years after we lost our baby girl, a close friend lost her baby girl to drowning. I was devastated for her and became her light. Six months later, I lost my baby brother in a tragic accident and she was my light. I've since met another dear friend online that lost her baby brother in a tragic accident a year after I lost mine. It's a never ending cycle that God starts and keeps going.

I still visit the valley but like you, I don't want to live there. I want to be the light. Although I never want to be thrust back into the valley in the ways that I have in the past, I know that one day it will happen again. I just have to watch for my light.

God bless you! I pray that Maddux has found my baby girl and that they are sliding down rainbows together. I can assure you that my brother is having lots of fun playing with them. He was the best uncle!