Just an update and hopefully I'm back on here more regularly

[Papa Zoom]

For those new, I've been around here for a while now, at one time a moderator, now gladly an ambassador here to promote goodwill and positive energy.

Yesterday was the third anniversary of my wife's passing. It's been quite the journey. Since that fateful day I sold my home of 30 years, met a girl, broke up with that girl, lived with my mom for a year (in Mesa Arizona) , arranged for mom to live in an Assisted living home, then covid hit and eventually moved mom out of that living situation and now she lives with me in the new home I bought last August. I'm still finding my way.

Grief sucks. Losing someone you love is probably the most difficult thing most of us will face. It's so personal. But God has been good and brought into my life people and circumstances that have helped me along the way.

I've learned many things along the way and by no means have I fully come through this experience. Yesterday was a tearful day. When you have children and grandchildren that miss their mom and Nana, it adds to the sorrow.

I'm not looking for sympathy here. Just giving an update. There are millions of fellow believers throughout the world in this same situation. Pray for your brothers and sisters in need and don't fear reaching out to those that have lost a loved one to death.

Finally, I attended a church for over thirty years. I can count on one hand the number of people that called me in the last three years. I'll only need two fingers. There are a lot of reasons for this as it's not uncommon. But I'm not bitter, I understand it. I hope someday to be able to involve myself in a ministry that reaches out to those who lost loved ones. For now, my ministry is taking care of my 98 year old mom!

God bless. Pray!

 

[Truthfrees]

For those new, I've been around here for a while now, at one time a moderator, now gladly an ambassador here to promote goodwill and positive energy.

Yesterday was the third anniversary of my wife's passing. It's been quite the journey. Since that fateful day I sold my home of 30 years, met a girl, broke up with that girl, lived with my mom for a year (in Mesa Arizona) , arranged for mom to live in an Assisted living home, then covid hit and eventually moved mom out of that living situation and now she lives with me in the new home I bought last August. I'm still finding my way.

Grief sucks. Losing someone you love is probably the most difficult thing most of us will face. It's so personal. But God has been good and brought into my life people and circumstances that have helped me along the way.

I've learned many things along the way and by no means have I fully come through this experience. Yesterday was a tearful day. When you have children and grandchildren that miss their mom and Nana, it adds to the sorrow.

I'm not looking for sympathy here. Just giving an update. There are millions of fellow believers throughout the world in this same situation. Pray for your brothers and sisters in need and don't fear reaching out to those that have lost a loved one to death.

Finally, I attended a church for over thirty years. I can count on one hand the number of people that called me in the last three years. I'll only need two fingers. There are a lot of reasons for this as it's not uncommon. But I'm not bitter, I understand it. I hope someday to be able to involve myself in a ministry that reaches out to those who lost loved ones. For now, my ministry is taking care of my 98 year old mom!

God bless. Pray!

beautiful post - thank you for the update

praying for your continued healing and comfort as you walk out each day in God's loving presence

one of my loved ones is in heaven with God now - a thought that comforts me is when someone pointed out that eternity time is 1 day is like a thousand years - that is why God said to adam on the day you eat this fruit you will die - adam dies before he reached a thousand years

this means that if we die within a thousand years we will arrive in heaven the same day as our loved ones - so they will feel they just got there and all of a sudden found us within an hour or 2 - i think about this all the time - it will only seem like an hour or 2 we were seperated in eternity time

God bless you - glad to hear from you

 

[for_his_glory]

Papa Zoom going into this process of grief and coming to learn how to do deal with such a loss, I feel God is going to help you in a mighty way to reach out and help others learn how to deal with their griefs. I really do not think one ever gets fully over grieving, but learns everyday how to put it all in prospective.

Hope to see you more brother as you are missed around here

 

[Papa Zoom]

Papa Zoom going into this process of grief and coming to learn how to do deal with such a loss, I feel God is going to help you in a mighty way to reach out and help others learn how to deal with their griefs. I really do not think one ever gets fully over grieving, but learns everyday how to put it all in prospective.

Hope to see you more brother as you are missed around here

That pretty much nails it. I've a bit more work to do but am beginning to feel myself returning to at least a lot of my former self. I know God has never left me but there are many times I feel alone. I don't do alone well but maybe in that aloneness I can find something even deeper with God than before.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Hello, Papa Zoom!

Glad to hear you pop in.

I'm sorry to hear that your grief is so heavy. Grief is one of the hardest things in this world...it never really goes away.

I'm glad to hear that you can move forward with such positivity, though. That's difficult.

I hope the weather is treating you nicely today as well. Maybe we'll get more rain!

 

[Adoration]

Papa Zoom
When I read this beautiful introduction/update my heart was reminded of the sting of sorrow and suffering. You are so right.... GRIEF SUCKS.... it sucks big time... I am one who is most familiar with sorrow and suffering. Not many people seem aware of the fact that there are levels of depth to sadness... It begins with sorrow... and graduates full scale to despair. I have been there... lived there for over 5 decades. For some reason unbeknownst to me... It was God's purpose to allow me to become deeply acquainted with both sorrow and suffering. I call them sisters.

The upside to that is that life plays out in seasons... and for now... I have a new companion... Her name is JOY... She is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.... she is filled with such wonder and delights in the smallest of things. She has been with me for a few months now... so much so that I have completely forgotten what the presence of Sorrow and Suffering is like.

I know that one day... my two faithful companions of so many years will return to me yet once again... but because of the presence of JOY... I shall greet them and embrace them with a new found respect... for it is because of them that I am able to experience this depth of absolute pleasure in the Majesty of God. For some reason... that is how God would have it.

So many things we cannot see or understand... often things just don't make sense to us... until they DO.

These heavenly glimpses are a GRACE that God gives us to ASSURE us that HE has NOT abandoned us....nor forsaken us.

The beauty of seasons is that they come to pass... You have been given a lesson in DEPTH... and I believe that lesson is placed into your bank account of FAITH.

Your words have deeply touched my heart.... I am new here... and am so happy to finally be part of something so precious and wonderful... People are sharing their hearts in such a way where the GLORY of GOD can be seen and felt.
Tenderly... Addy

 

[stovebolts]

So glad to see you back Papa Zoom and I’m glad your still standing strong in the Lord.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Miss seeing you around.

 

[Papa Zoom]

Thanks all. It's been quite the journey. Covid hasn't helped and now with mom's needs, I don't get out much except to shop. If I'm gone more than an hour, she worries. We'll have respite care soon. I'm trying to find a new pattern to this new life but it's difficult to settle in. Even after three years there are days I don't want to get out of bed and motivation is beyond my reach.

I enjoy taking care of others so it's not a huge burden to care for mom. It's probably a combination of things have have changed in my life since Nancy's death. Thanks for the comments. See you around!