Beauty in the Ashes.

Its not about the pain that pushed you to the edge.

Its not about the people who left you on the ledge. 

Its not about the darkness that clouded over sight. 

Its not about memories that feel like a blight. 

Its not about the bitterness that can often overtake

Its not about the smile that needed to be faked. 

Its not about resentment that eats at your soul

Its not about the emptiness when you crave to feel full. 

Its not about who owes you, or what you are owed. .

Its not about the sadness that leaves your heart cold. 

Its not about the anger that washes up in waves

Its not about the fear that traps you in a grave. 

Its about the choice you made, to walk another path

Its about the first step you took, never going back. 

It is about forgiveness, the start of letting go,

Its about a love that saves, and changes what you know. 

Its about healing. Its about Faith.

Its about finding and paving a new way. 

Its about finding joy and learning from the past. 

Its about changing and growing, at last........ 

This week has been a beautiful ( see also; painful) reminder to me of how far I have come. I find myself incredibly grateful, that the way your story begins does not doom the ending as well. That, even in real life, there are underdog stories and over-comers. I find that I am consumed with counting blessings hidden in the memories that were once blurred by pain, fear, shame and anger. Counting it as Joy, even though it still hurts. I am grateful that healing comes in layers. I can peel off one layer at a time and dive deeper into the wound and allow Jesus to knit it back together so that I can truly heal and GROW. It would be too much all at once, but over time, I can be thorough.  I was so stunted before I started to follow God. I couldn't grow while I was still suffocated by pain and surrounded by darkness. The change has been beautiful. (see also; painful). I have found a freedom I wish on all of you. I can see the people who hurt me through the eyes of a Lord who loves. I can see their brokenness and know that they too were stunted by pain and darkness. I can love without fear. I broke cycles. I broke chains. Instead of being weighed down by my past, I can see it as a refining fire that made me who I am today. I can look back, when I forget my strength, and remember what I walked through to get here. I can build others up with love, because I have found a love that overflows through me and I am never empty. I have no fear of the future, because I trust the Author of my life. He has always been there, waiting for me to come and be loved. It still moves me to tears to think of all he has done for me. Healing, grateful tears. 

Its not about what was or who you used to be. 

Its about the choices you make that set you FREE!

I pray you find healing that digs deep. I pray for you to find a love that fills every empty corner of your broken heart. I pray that you can see the beauty in your story through the hurts and mistakes. I pray that you can feel that weight lift from your body and you are set free! I pray for you to grow and change without fear of what others from your past think! I pray for you, and with you, because healing takes time and courage. 

Step out. Be bold. Make changes. Break cycles.

~Amber