This is a spiritual garden... many of the affirmations and sayings concern God,
for I truly believe that He led me through my troubles.
He was always there when I needed Him.

This is not a "religious" site. There is no preaching. I'm just letting you know how I feel about life. Even if you don't believe in God, there are still many things here that you can use to help you heal your hurts, so please don't go away before you stroll through the garden..

As you walk down this garden path, I hope that you can begin to realize,
a little at a time, why you are going through what you are going through.

While you are here, enjoy nature in the Garden.

What wound did ever heal but by degrees? ---- William Shakespeare --- Healing takes time and follows a path. Allow it to happen as it will.

  

"Tears"

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.

 If there were no rain, fields would become parched and brittle, and many creatures would die. If we could not cry, all our emotions would eventually dry up, too. Soon we would not laugh, either.

Our tears cleanse us. Our tears heal us; they make us whole.

Tears are as important to our growth as rain is to a flower. They help release the pressure of sadness so we can feel better. After a storm, when the sun shines again through the clouds, a brightly colored rainbow appears. After our tears, our inner sun shines, and rainbows are formed from our pain.

From Today's Gift, a Hazelden Meditation Book

The following verse was sent to me by someone else going through a mid-life divorce. I decided to believe God's promise that I should have hope for a future that would prosper me (not monetarily, but with happiness). I am here to tell you that, in His time, not mine, His promise came true for me. Believe it, and it will for you.

"I know the plans I have for you,", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

 The following sayings are from Streams in the Desert, a flip calendar that I nearly wore out by my gleaning things from it:

	God's designs regarding you, and his methods of bringing about those designs are infinitely wise.
There may be a great working in your life when it all seems dark and you cannot see or trace, but yet God is working just as truly as did He work "all that night", and all the next day.
	The very fact of trial proves that there is something in us very precious to our Lord; else He would not spend so much pains and time on us.
No man is made until he has been out into the surge of the storm and found the sublime fulfillment of the prayer: "Oh, God, take me, break me, make me".
	Do not be afraid to enter the cloud that is settling down on your life. God is in it. The other side is radiant with His glory.
God's Scheme The tragedies that now blacken and darken the very airs of Heaven for us, will one day sink into their places in a scheme so august, so magnificent, so joyful, that we shall laugh for wonder and delight.

	"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin -- real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. .. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles WERE my life." ... Fr. Alfred D'Souza...
There comes a time in some relationships when no matter how sincere the attempt to reconcile the differences, or how strong the wish to recreate a part of the past once shared, the struggle becomes so painful that nothing else is felt... and the world and all of its beauty only add discomfort by providing cruel contrast.
	Let Go and Let God As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God, because He was my Friend. But, then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own. At last I snatched them back and cried, "How can You be so slow?" "My child", He said, "What could I do? You never did let go". ...Author unknown...
So often God bids us to tarry as we go, and fully recover ourselves for the next stage of the journey and the work.
	The problem of getting great things is being able to hold on for the last half hour.
The reason most of us won't let go of what we have is that we don't really believe that something better is in front of us. So we hang on desperately to what was. Until you let go of what was, you don't get the beautiful stuff of what can be. In living that life of truth where things can get better, they are going to get better. Earnie Lawson, "Relationships"

 Don't Stay In A Rut

If you always think what you've always thought,
you'll always feel the way you've always felt.

If you always feel the way you've always felt,
you'll always do what you've always done.

If you always do what you've always done,
you'll always get what you've always gotten.

If you always get what you've always gotten,
you'll always think what you've always thought.

Moral of the story.. If you are not happy with your life, you have to make changes. You can't think, feel, or do what you've been doing all of your life if you want to be happier and have better and more fulfilling life. So, think about this and make a list of all of the things you need to change.
It's never too late to change your life!

It's hard to believe that anything good can come out of a painful incident. Hard times can test your courage, determination, and strength. You suddenly realize that you can handle it. Afterward, you can say to yourself, "I've survived. I can face just about anything now." The hurt you feel will someday go away.

And you will be stronger... and better.

"God uses most for His glory those people and things which are most perfectly broken. The sacrifices He accepts are broken and contrite hearts."

("From Streams In the Desert")

There are times in our lives when we feel forced to make choices and changes. When these times arise, how can we know whether we are doing the right thing? How can we tell if what we are being led to do is really God's guidance?

The answer is one that requires patience, practice and faith. The answer is this:

We LISTEN.

Before we make a choice or leap into a sudden change, we need to mentally take a step back, and, through prayers and meditations, listen to what the Holy Spirit guides us to do.

"God, show me the way that is best for me. Guide me to do the things I need to do, and lead me to the path I need to take. I believe in Your wisdom, and I will follow Your guidance. God, I'm listening... help me to hear."

"We never get to keep the ones we love forever."

From "Judging Amy"
Maxine (Amy's Mother), a character I much admired, was engaged to be married to this wonderful millionaire, Jared. Upon the eve of her wedding, her fiancee died overseas. It devastated her. If you followed that show (which is still in reruns on TNT), you will know that she didn't take his death very well, as would any of us. She cut her long hair on the air, and it was as if she were cutting away her previous life. However, she did work through her loss, as we all must, and got on with her life. She ha her bouts of anger and depression as we all do, but she expressed her feelings and eventually healed.
I first wrote this in October 2003. As the show progressed, and time passed in Maxine's life, she eventually met another man. She resisted getting close to him because she didn't want to be hurt again, but after ups and downs, they eventually fell in love, and by the time the show ended, they were very happy and probably would have gotten married had the show not ended.
(July 10, 2007)

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This page was created July 21, 1998,
and updated January, 2006 & July 2007.

It has had this many visitors:

 

 Site moved 6/10/02; Old counter was at 1,295.

 

 Credits:

 Background music: "Music Box"

  All contents (page design and text) Copyright 1998 - 2006 by Linda S. Nix
excluding graphics credited to others and quoted materials.

Some Flower Graphics from Wax and Weeds

Some Flower Graphics from Wax and Weeds