Jordan Crossings Blog
Navigating the Waters of Faith & Mental Health
Hold Space for the Heartbreak
I felt such shame because I didn’t believe I had a right to feel the way that
I did. There was so much good in my life and so much hurt in the world. What about the child
dying of cancer? What about those homeless and starving? What about the people being
bombed in Palestine? What about the Jews experiencing religious persecution? What about
what about what about??? I tried to make myself think about everyone else that was
experiencing actual pain. And yet that only made me disappear into the dark cave further and
further until I could hardly see a way out. We can lift the burden of having to judge heartbreak,
friends. We can hold space.
Encouragement for Battling Social Anxiety
As I walked down the long hallway to the room where the moms’ group was meeting, my heart beat faster and faster. “Deep breaths. It will be fine,” I said to myself.
Walking into a room of strangers, I saw the eyes of about twenty seemingly perfect women peer up at me, smiling. Hesitantly, I found an empty seat and sat down.
When We Don’t Choose Change…
Life is like that sometimes. It seems to move along like a river, changing course, carrying us unwillingly down new paths. We can fight to swim against the current, but we will just end up tired and not where we wanted to be anyway. Often, it’s best to go with the flow of life and make new sweet memories in the place where life takes you. Kids grow up. Events change or cease to exist. Friends move. Other people make decisions that you weren’t part of but, unfortunately, affect your life too.
I Don’t Know the Difference Between my Biological and Adopted Kids
Many parents in the foster & adoptive community say, “I don’t know the difference between my biological and adopted kids.” This is a sweet sentiment, and I know where their heart is. They are trying to express that they love all their kids equally, and I know they genuinely do. This is the warm and fuzzy thing to say to convey that message. The truth is, they are very different.
Staying Afloat While Drowning
I was watching my kids swim in the pool. The two boys were swimming very close to each other. I heard one of them yell, “Stop trying to take me under!” The other boy yelled back, “I’m not trying to take you under. I’m trying to stay above!” Being a person who works with struggling people regularly and having been a struggling person myself, I was struck with the metaphor.
Now Seeking Guest Blog Posts!
Are you a writer? Do you have a story to tell? I am currently looking for guest blog posts about personal experiences with mental health and recovery from a Christian perspective. Whether you have a message or a testimony to share, I’d like to hear it! Fill out the form below or contact Megan for more details: meganjean@jordancrossings.org
