This morning I decided to reflect on the past year on all that I am thankful for. This past year has been quite defining in my life. What defined it most is being a part of the Healing for Damaged Emotions group. In meeting once a month for a year with other wonderful women, I learned so many things and grew in ways I never thought possible!
So what is this group? You may be wondering. It is a support group that uses the book “Healing for Damaged Emotions” to help us understand our perceptions of life, people and situations and how those perceptions have been shaped by our childhood and other stages of our lives.
It addresses those damaged emotions or those unidentified emotions that tend to interfere with us having healthy and happy relationships both with others on earth and with God. It’s not a professional counseling group but it complements it well for those of us going through counseling.
For those not needing professional counseling, it still helps us because one thing I learned is that so many people can benefit from it and you don’t have to have mental health issues to gain a lot from it.
Through the book and the group I reflected and journaled and it helped me to learn so much about past feelings I had not yet confronted or dealt with. What this did is that it brought me to a place of peace and understanding. The practical things I have learned I still use today. My perceptions and close relationships are much healthier and now I have a tool for the rest of my life to help me address future challenges.
I remember the day I decided to belong to this group. I realized that I had issues undealt with because I found myself “stuck” in a place in my life-spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
I knew that if I were to grow as a person (most importantly grow in my relationship with God), I would need to do more than just read the bible and pray. I knew I wanted to be a better mother, wife, and friend and I could not do so without this kind of help.
Now, I can share this experience with others. I am currently helping a friend with this journey through what I learned and I am also able to be more understanding of what other people go through emotionally and mentally, including my own children.
I understand just how important it is to just listen to people and that sometimes their feelings just need to be acknowledged. I know how important it is to have patience with relatives and friends who are stuck and struggling with spiritual, mental, and emotional challenges.
There are tons more that I’m thankful for as well: my husband-so selfless and loving, my children-both gifts from God, and the opportunity to be the mother of a daughter soon to be born in January!
I’m thankful for my mom and dad who raised me in the best way they could and who provided for me each day of my life. They helped set the spiritual foundation I have now by taking me to church each Sunday and teaching me the importance of respecting God. I’m thankful for my sisters-my original and forever best friends for life! They are two of the most generous people I know! I’m also thankful for my little brother- who’s always willing to help me when I need it most.
I’m thankful for the father of my two boys-his love for them is one of the greatest I know! I’m thankful for my in laws who have accepted and loved me from the time they met me. I’m grateful for all my extended family and those special times we have shared growing up both in Puerto Rico and Peru.
I’m thankful for my church family-my spiritual family that has loved me and have been such an important part of my life.
I’m so thankful for all of my friendships that have continued throughout the years, those loyal friends that are still around even after all of these years. I’m thankful to have never gone a day in my life where I have starved or have been in great need.
I am thankful for the educational opportunities I’ve had to go to college practically for free and for receiving my graduate degree during the time I was a single mom. God gave me the strength each day to make sure I finished that degree and even kept an A average the whole time. I’m thankful for my career and the people at work-it’s been a great place to work so far. I’m grateful to be healthy and that my pregnancy has been a very healthy one.
I look forward to another year of new experiences that will help me be even more thankful. Even in those experiences that will be challenging I want to be thankful because I know I have a Father in Heaven who never leaves my side and is always providing the strength I need to persevere and conquer! I know God has a plan for my life and the life of my family. It is to serve Him and give to others and I look forward to that and so much more!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His Love endures Forever!-Psalms 136:1
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The Intentional Christian Woman 