Peace, and Hope, and Love.

I'm very saddened to learn of a former family member (by marriage, now divorced) who took her own life over the weekend.  I hope she has found peace now.  I have glimpsed through friends the complete isolation and pain that might lead one to take her own life.  I am grateful I have not walked that path.  Yet, I try to understand those who do.  I don't want to second guess my relative and say, "Well, she should have done this or that."  I just want to say, "I'm so very sorry."  She left behind four grown daughters and two grandchildren.  My hope for them is this . . . I hope you remember those times, even though you might have been very young, that your mom showed hope.  I hope you remember those times she was happy and capable of showing you love.  For all four of you, I ask that you not allow this hopeless incident to define your life because this was not about you.  It was about your mother's pain and her inability to see any other way out of it.  You are very bright and courageous young women.  You are not your mother.  You each have an incredible future ahead of you.  I wish you to always have hope and peace and the comfort that you are not alone.  I ask you to seek help in finding that, if necessary, but do know it is there.  I don't know what else to say.  I am so very sorry.

Sometimes you just need a break . . .

I made a decision today to take a break from Facebook.  I have been thinking about it for a while.  I thought I would be really sad about it and still conflicted about disabling my account, but I felt relief.  I LOVE Facebook.  I love reestablishing connections with people I have known well, following people daily that I keep in touch with sparsely, and making new connections with people I do not know very well.  I love the affirmation I have received from friends as I struggle with weight loss and parenting and life.  Lately, I've noticed a disconcerting trend.  It started about six months ago when the political race for president heated up.  There was (and still is) such contempt around politics.  I'm kind of an odd bird when it comes to politics.  I'm conservative on some issues and liberal on others.  Still others I walk down the middle of the road.  But, when the posts and comments I see are so hateful, I feel angry and hateful too and want to lash out at friends.  But, I don't.  I see religion rear it's ugly head as I watch people attempt to manipulate their "friends" into following their own rules sometimes leaving Jesus and his teachings completely out of the picture.  This makes me angry.  And sad.  Where does Jesus say, "Manipulate those people to follow me?"  I can disagree with these friends, but there is no discussion.  Only contempt.  I really don't need that contempt.  There are counters to the political haters and the religious haters, but their voices are soft in comparison.  So, in the interest of my attempts to be healthy -- mentally, spiritually, and physically -- I'm taking a break.  Maybe I will write more here.