What I am Learning, and Loving
A New Series
Hey friends!
I am starting a new monthly series where I share what I am learning and loving. I tend to overcomplicate how I distribute my content, but sharing openly from the heart is when I feel most satisfied and able to glorify God. So here goes...
What I'm Learning
When I was 11 years old, I watched my 84-year-old grandmother take her last breath. My mom and I were visiting her in the hospital as a nurse bathed her. The nurse asked me to hold a sheet up by my grandmother's chest as both her and my mom lotioned her legs.
I'll never forget looking at her beautiful, ageless skin, her black hair streaked with gray, and how light settled around her body like a halo. Then, I saw her breathe in and out one final time. I told my mom and the nurse, and they confirmed she had passed away.
I don't know why God allowed me to witness that moment or why I remember it so vividly. But lately, I've been learning that life is as fragile as that last inhalation yet as beautiful as the exhale. Seasons change, people change, and things die while others come alive. Nothing is permanent except what we do for Christ.
I've been contemplating questions like: What do I truly want? Am I living according to my heart's desires or just following how others live? How do I want to be remembered? What matters most right now? Am I proud of the woman I'm becoming?
I'm learning that I am safe, that I can rest and release the tension from my shoulders, and that I don't have to stay in fight-or-flight mode. For the first time, I feel at home and safe within myself.
I'm learning that anxiety stems from thinking too far into the future, while depression arises from dwelling too much on the past. My prayer is to remain present and not miss the moment of now.
I’m learning that my body did not fail me. It is not a failure. There’s no shame attached to the pregnancy loss. I must keep loving and nurturing it. Trauma no longer has a home in my temple.
I'm also learning the importance of discretion. Some people, even if they love you, can only be as happy for you as they feel worthy of experiencing themselves.
I am learning that the most beautiful experience in marriage is growing up together, and watching each other dreams come true. I am so proud of you, Michael!
What I'm Loving
I love slow, peaceful mornings spent sipping coffee and basking in God's presence. I love the life I'm attracting by being still in God without striving.
I love the enriching conversations I have with the women in my community.
I love building, dreaming, and envisioning what's to come.
I'm loving the journey of self-discovery and creating a thriving, peaceful home for my family.
What are you learning, and what are you loving? Share below!
I hope you'll join me!
With Love,
Ashley Joy
I absolutely love the part where you talked about anxiety and depression! It so true that it try’s to take over our minds but to be in the here and now and to focus on what is happening right in front of us! I am loving how you are seeking out Gods will for your life and your family’s lives! Continue listening to his voice!