Healing Is A Process

Today's illustrations are compliments of my daughter, Mags. I am using these with her permission. This is one of her projects from her eighth grade Art class. We were unaware she was doing it. The only thing I knew was she needed a photograph of her Aunt Heidi for school. She didn't offer more information and we didn't ask. Trust is important between parents and their teen. I know Mary's heart and figured she was up to something that would bring tears to my eyes when the time came. I was correct on both accounts. 

The illustrations are in order from beginning to end, with the first step at the top and the finished project at the bottom. It started with a photograph. She chose the one used on most of the missing person flyers so we would have a different appreciation of this beautiful photo. The next step was to sketch the picture. The third step required her to take her sketch and then carve it onto this funky "wood paper". The final step was to make a "print" of the carving. We think it turned out amazing! We are so proud of her. 

Is it perfect? No, but neither are we and neither is the healing process. As Mary explained the steps in the process to transition an old photograph into the print you see at the bottom required time, patience, dedication, persistence, guidance, and a willingness on Mary's part. Healing is the same way.

To heal requires time, patience, dedication, persistence, guidance, and a willingness too. Our Teacher of course is God. I was overwhelmed first at Mary's interest to choose a picture of her aunt, the aunt she never met but as I thought about it I realized it had a deeper meaning. Mary experienced a loss too, she lost the opportunity to enjoy being loved, spoiled, and guided by her Aunt Heidi. Mary created a print of her aunt and in the process, grieved a little too as she spent hours sketching and carving the face of an angel. 

Healing takes time. In the case of a missing person, there is healing for the next generation too. They never met their loved one and live with the same "unknowns" as their parents, siblings, and extended family. What if? A question with much weight, a weight children shouldn't need to carry. Remember to let your children grieve and heal too...they need it as much as we do, if not more.

What are some ways you have helped a child heal after loss? If you have a loved one missing, how have you helped the children in your life understand and heal? 

I know these are personal questions, a little more personal than I typically ask. They are thoughts to ponder and remember. If you choose to share, thank you. If not, I totally understand. 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 

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Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

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Art work created by Mary Buske, Heidi's niece.
Scripture Verses Today are from:
1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 147:3, Romans 5:1-5