On the theory that’s it’s much easier to say what’s killing me these days, Modern Mrs. Darcy posts her annual “What’s saving my life” declaration on Groundhog Day, the midpoint of winter.
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| Photo by Christian Grab on Unsplash |
It’s tempting to enumerate what’s killing me. Oh, I could tell you what’s driving me crazy, what frustrates me, disheartens me, and angers me to no end.
But it’s a more helpful exercise to reflect on what’s saving me.
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| Photo by Donnie Rosie on Unsplash |
We have a relatively new practice that was born, in fact, of some of those very things that are killing us—those which must not be named here.
As a way of deepening relationship, a counselor recommended to Jason taking a few minutes in the morning and evening for the two of us to share how we’re doing using “soul words” (ie, you’re not allowed to say merely “good,” “fine,” or “ok”) and then pray together. So whether we feel anxious, antsy, resigned, content, distressed, ignored, or whatever else, we connect on a soul level. We each know how the other is feeling and what’s driving us to feel that way. And we each hear the other pray for us, about our own uppermost concerns.
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| Photo by Jonas Eriksson on Unsplash |
The counselor was right, it has deepened our relationship. It has encouraged me and kept loneliness at bay. I know I’m so fortunate to have such a marriage.
As winter wears on into Febru-March, I will probably tell Jason at various times that I feel depressed, weary, and sun-starved. And then he will tell me however he feels, and we will pray.
And that simple and profound practice will be saving my life.
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| Photo by Alexandra on Unsplash |
what’s saving my life in 2022 (posted on 2-2-22!)
