a few journal backgrounds

Wanted to show you all a few of my new backgrounds.  I am not sure what I will do with them, maybe a photograph and a little journaling. I like the backgrounds so much as they are I don't want to add too much to them.


After I posted the "Entering Loneliness" article yesterday I got to thinking about it. The definition of loneliness is:

alone

lonesome

without company

companion less

solitary

isolated

bleak

standing apart

destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship 

But we can feel alone even in the company of others.  When our hearts are missed and not understood. When the needs and desires God placed in our hearts are not met. Sometimes that "loneliness" is far worse then just being alone.


We all need affirmation, acceptance, understanding and love.  We desire these from the people we love, and expect to get our needs met by them.  But we love and are loved by imperfect people.  People that do not love well much of the time.  And when those needs are not met we feel alone.  Sometimes that loneliness come out as anger, either to others (outward) or at ourselves (internal).  For me I would internalize that loneliness.  To relieve the pain I would buy some shiny new bauble, or eat something yummy, or endlessly move furniture among other things, then when that did not alleviate the pain (and it doesn't for long) I would explode in anger to be noticed.


I am changing.  I am learning to take that pain to the One who has the power to fill that need perfectly because we were made for Him.


And it's interesting to me that Solitude is one of things God is using to accomplish that change.


Richard Foster says this:  "Loneliness is inner emptiness.  Solitude is inner fulfillment".


A friend of mine saw this in fulfillment - ful-fill-me.


I am learning that when my need for affirmation, unconditional love and acceptance are met (filled) by the One who made me and knows me inside and out better than anyone else I am less demanding of others in my life to meet those needs.  I still desire those things from my loved ones, we all do, but I give them grace when they cannot meet them for one reason or another.


Grace received and given is so healing.

Greg and I are heading for the mountains for a long weekend.  The main Lodge has a computer, but I am going to try to stay away from it.  (we will see how well that goes)  I want to spend time listening to my Father, with my precious husband, good books, my journal, beautiful surroundings, and yes good food.

Grace and peace