Monday, April 19, 2010

The Land of D.

Through a series of events recently I had gotten distracted, wasn't looking where I was going and bam~found myself wandering around in the Land of Discouragement. Oh, how I hate that place!! 
It looked normal and familiar, but because I hadn't been there in awhile, it didn't FEEL normal. So I knew almost right away I was where I shouldn't be. A few things I noticed about the Land of Discouragement..the ground is really sticky. Makes it hard to move forward, or in any direction for that matter. It wants to keep you stuck just where you landed. And it forces you to see and hear your immediate surroundings~which is never good, either. My surroundings looked dark, dismal, foggy. And the sounds...you know how fog softens sounds? It's like that..soft, subtle sounds at first. But as I stayed stuck there, I started to make out words, sentences: "You are a failure"..."You are boring"..."You don't matter"..."You are________", well, you get the picture.
So as I stayed stuck there, listening to all that over and over, I started to believe it. But then I prayed.."Lord, show me the Truth. YOUR Truth."
My husband, Steve, noticed I'd been away and the change in me. He sat me down and asked where I'd been. So I told him about my trip to Discouragement, and my frustration of being stuck there.
My husband is a wonderful man and I love him with all my heart. He has so many amazing qualities that I appreciate so much, but I must tell you, encouragment is not one of them. He is just not gifted in that way. And he longs to be an encouragement to me~he's told me so over the years. And there have been times he has. But there are other times when I felt I desperately needed to be encouraged that he fell short and he's agonized over that. I have learned not to put that expectation on him so much, just as he as learned not to expect an immaculate house from me! ;-)
A couple of days ago Steve had left to go out of town while I was out with Courtney. My darling daughter treated me to lunch, then we did a little shopping. When we came home, I went upstairs and walked into our bathroom and I beheld this sight:
Over my sink were notes taped all over the mirror!
I got closer and began reading them...as best I could what with the tears streaming down my face and all..
And the best one of all:

I read these notes of affirmations over and over again until I started to believe them.
I found my feet had come unstuck from the Land of D. and I was walking on solid ground again.
I am so grateful God used my sweet husband to speak His Truth over me!


When you are interiorly free you call others to freedom, whether you know it or not. Freedom attracts wherever it appears. A free man or a free woman creates a space where others feel safe and want to dwell. Our world is so full of conditions, demands, requirements, and obligations that we often wonder what is expected of us. But when we meet a truly free person, there are no expectations, only an invitation to reach into ourselves and discover there our own freedom.


Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be. ~ Henri Nouwen~


Psalm 30:2-4 (New International Version)



2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help


and you healed me.


3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave


you spared me from going down into the pit.


4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;


praise his holy name.







Philippians 4:8 (The Message)

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.


13 comments:

  1. I forgot to add...You are a great writer and have a fabulous Blog!! I love you keep believing in yourself...I sure do! Steve

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  2. I'm so proud of you......what you did, you took "every thought captive"....maybe not right away....but you DID it! Kiddo, it's a process....you are growing.....I see it so clearly! Now you just BELIEVE it! How wonderful that Steve encouraged you. Had I known you were down I would have written you a wonderful note telling you what an awesome person I think you are! You bless so many by your gifts which flow our of your HEART...which clearly shows you have a heart that is generous, thoughtful, kind, extravagant in blessing others, wise and beautiful! I'm so glad you are my friend too, not just Steves! :o) Love you, Toni

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  3. I love this! Thank you for shareing and God bless!! Carol

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  4. Myrna, What a wonderful experience--I've been in the land of D many times. Your dear hubby is wonderful! You'd better keep him. Life is full of ups and downs, it's so great to have someone to help you up! And your faith too. Though mine is different, it is what keeps me coming back when there is no one that I can get through to. I'm adding you to my prayer list. Keep smiling!
    Love, Sherry

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  5. Myrna,
    I frequently find myself in the Land of D. Just about every time I go to work.......
    You have a wonderful husband who definitely loves you with all of his heart and he deserves an A+++ for his encouragement!!
    You are a great lady and NEVER forget that!!
    hugs,
    Debbie

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  6. Oh Myrna~~what a wonderful post to read today!!!
    Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. God is using you to help others, I am sure of it:)
    I truly needed this encouragement and hope to give it to others....
    Praise the Lord, for He is in control!:)

    Hugs,
    Lynn♥

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  7. I've been to that land too! Many people have, but isn't it funny how when you are there, you don't see a soul around you? Nothing but isolation. I too give thanks to my Lord for the light He shines in those dark, lying, foggy places.
    I will update my blog now with a link to your site.

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  8. Oh, and forgot to say: your husband is a wonderful man!

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  9. Myrna, thank you so much for sharing this, Lynns Lovelies said in one of the comments above that God is using you to help others, and I truly believe that because I have been in the land of D lately myself and because of your post I'm feeling much better, now my prayers have been answered to. Just as God used your husband to reveil himself to you he used you to do the same for myself and others. Blessings~~~ Daphne

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  10. Thank you for sharing how God used your husband to speak into your life. Glad you are doing better. These are trying days and we all need encouragement for sure. God's word will bring encouragement. His Word is Life!

    May God continue to bless you
    and keep you!

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  11. Oh Myrna,,,you make me cry,,what a wonderful post. You have a good man. And he knows what a miracle you are in his life. I think understanding how each thinks, and approaches life, and gives, it is what a relationship is about. Men need reminding too, as we are the communicators. Menopause is a challanging time for me, its easy to get down in the dumps, and they will never know that, thank God. Having the news tell us how awful thing are going to be dosent help either these days. So many people are so dissatisfied with the current bunch in WA that the energy would be in the air, even if we didn't have any media. It is a necessary choice to find the positive in our lives these days. I love notes, I put them in my husbands lunch, he dosen't mention them much, but he does notice the extra effort. Cartoons and jokes too, he shows the guys, I know he is proud.
    And I just wrote to you about your bathroom and wishing I could see it....and there it is...how pretty it is...I need to look closer as I was anxious to write.
    God is good, All will be well.
    Love
    Marcie

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  12. Oh sweet Myrn...what a wonderful post dear friend!!!! I'm so very glad you are feeling better ~ if left to our own devices we all can get so bogged down in our own disappointments ~ what a precious husband for writing all of those love notes and leaving them for you!!!! Sending you hugs from Georgia, xxoo, Dawn

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  13. I LOVE it, that was SO sweet of Steve!! I will add to it:)! You are an amazingly wonderful Mother in love...I am so so blessed!! You allow others to be themselves and you are always right there to encourage and love them! I am so thankful I can open up to you and I always know you will listen without judgment. I will work on be a better encourager to you too! I love you! See you tomorrow!!

    Amy

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