Soothe Your Soul: Meditations to Help You through Life's Painful Moments

Vredeveld, Margaret

ISBN 10: 1458212157 / ISBN 13: 9781458212153

Published by AbbottPress, 2013

Seller Inventory # ABLIING23Mar2716030024071

Synopsis:

Author Rev. Margaret Vredeveld knows firsthand the sorrow and anguish of a loved one's passing. In April of 2001, her youngest daughter, Sheri Joy, died at the age of twenty-eight of ovarian cancer. During that time, Vredeveld served as her daughter's spiritual guide while continuing to pastor her congregation; she soon came to realize that she had come to a better understanding of difficult times her parishioners faced. In Soothe Your Soul, Vredeveld shares a host of meditations to help people navigate some of life's most painful moments. Based on her personal life experiences and complemented with Scripture readings and songs, the meditations address a variety of topics, including conflict, confusion, gossip, hostility, self-doubt, anger, depression, and the death of a loved one. Filled with words to calm the spirit and uplift the heart, Soothe Your Soul offers reflections and teachings to guide people through some of life's most trying times and experiences.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Soothe Your Soul

Meditations to Help You through Life's Painful Moments

By Margaret Vredeveld

Abbott Press

Copyright © 2013 Ronald and Margaret Vredeveld Family Revocable Living Trust
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4582-1215-3

Contents

Acknowledgements, ix, 
Foreword, xi, 
Preface, xiii, 
A Song of the Soul, xvi, 
Index of Meditations for Painful Moments, 
Boredom Trust God and Give God Thanks, 3, 
Christmas A Light Upon My Path, 7, 
Conflict The War of the Squirrels, 13, 
Confusion Take a Lesson from the Sunflower, 17, 
Death of a Loved One More than the Sand, 21, 
Easter Ode to my Easter Child, 29, 
Father's Day See What Love the Father Has Given Us, 35, 
Fear of Commitment Hand in Hand, 39, 
Gossip Sticks and Stones, 45, 
Grief Arthritis of the Soul, 49, 
Hard Times The Tree That Survived, 55, 
Hostility Give Thanks for the Gift of Life, 65, 
Impatience Hurry up and Wait, 71, 
Life after Death Through It All, 77, 
Losses An Attitude of Gratitude, 83, 
Messiness Showers of Blessing, 89, 
Mother's Day As a Mother Comforts Her Child, 93, 
Negativity Filter out the Negative, 99, 
New Beginnings Strangers in a Strange Land, 103, 
Regret Be At Peace, 109, 
Self-doubt This Little Light of Mine, 115, 
Stress God Walks With Us, 119, 
Transition You Are My Child—the Beloved, 125, 
Troubled Waters Peace Like a River in My Soul, 131, 
Valentine's Day Near to the Heart of God, 137, 
Afterword: The Story of the Blue Heron, 139, 
About the Author, 143, 

CHAPTER 1

Boredom

Trust God and Give God Thanks

I stand at the kitchen window looking out on yet another bleak, rainy day and I find myself lamenting the flu that has kept me grounded too many days. It's bad enough to GET the flu—why does it have to linger so long? And why does my husband have to be sick too? Two grumpy people in one house is one grumpy person too many! I find myself wondering—is it just me or does the world seem darker to everyone when he or she feels sick? I watch the news and it feels like war and hatred and violence hover over my soul like a dark cloud. A story about "balloon boy" makes me weep for exploited children everywhere. I ask God, "Why do the wicked prosper?"

As I ponder I find myself singing (silently, since my voice is gone!) the prayer by Sy Miller and Bill Jackson: "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." I breathe as deeply as flu allows and let myself imagine a world where all people—no matter what their age—know they are at center children of God. I imagine that quiet trust radiating from every individual until it becomes a force that overcomes war and hatred and violence. It is as if a light comes on in my soul and the dark world is infused with hope.

In my mind I see the prophet Jeremiah in ancient Israel—afflicted, afraid and alone. I hear his lament and recognize in it the healing and hope that arise even during his time of overwhelming anguish. The healing and hope that spring from his trust that he is at center a child of God:

The thought of my affliction and homelessness Is wormwood and gall! My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of God never ceases. God's mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; Great is your trustworthiness. "God is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I will hope in God."

Lamentations 3:10-24

I raise my eyes to the window and see not just the dreariness of the day but color. Gold. Red. The startling whiteness of my neighbor's house. And I pray for the people I can't visit because I am sick. I pray for exploited children. I pray for the wounds of the people of the world. I pray for peace.

Go ahead. Lament! Tell God how unfair it is that you are sick. Tell God how you feel. Pour out your troubles and worries. Recall God's love for you in the past. Project into the future the light of the hope that God will continue to renew and guide you.

No matter what your situation, trust God. And give God thanks for the gift of life.

A Light upon My Path

Christmas

A Light Upon My Path

I sit in my living room next to the advent wreath mesmerized by the light from the candles—lights symbolizing hope, peace, joy, and love. In my mind I see of the light of the star that guided the magi to Bethlehem. What extravagant gifts the magi carried! Frankincense, myrhh and gold. Gifts fit for a king. I wonder what Mary and Joseph did with all that gold! My mind wanders to the gifts we give and receive. Some are extravagant—some not. Some fit—some don't. And we must wait in irritatingly long lines to return or exchange them. Then I think of the gifts God has given us. Extravagant and fitting gifts—spiritual gifts: hope, peace, joy and love.

I focus on the light of the candle symbolizing hope—not a feeling but an awareness—a light shining in the darkness reminding us that we are at center children of God. And I remember the stirring words of Jeremiah in Lamentations 3. Words from a soul despised and rejected:

The thought of my affliction and homelessness is wormwood and gall! My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. God's mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "God is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in God."

And I pray for us as we enter a new year that we might hold within us God's gift of hope as a light upon our path and so be hopeful people.

I focus now on the light of the candle symbolizing peace—not a feeling but an awareness—a light shining in the darkness reminding us that we are at center children of God. And I remember the comforting words of Jesus in John 14. Words to a people afraid of the future:

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.... Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

And I pray for us as we enter a new year that we might hold within us God's gift of peace as a light upon our path and so be peaceful people.

I focus now on the light of the candle symbolizing joy—not a feeling but an awareness—a light shining in the darkness reminding us that we are at center children of God. And I remember the comforting words of Isaiah 35. Words to a people devastated by war and driven from their homes:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom.... A high way shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; ... the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing. Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

And I pray for us as we enter a new year that we might hold within us God's gift of joy as a light upon our path and so be joyful people.

I focus now on the light of the candle symbolizing love—not a feeling but an awareness—a light shining in the darkness reminding us that we are at center children of God. And I remember words from Jesus in John 3. Words telling Nicodemus we are born not just of our human parents but of God.

For God so loved the cosmos that God sent God's only begotten Son into the cosmos that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have everlasting life. Indeed, God sent not the Son into the cosmos to condemn the cosmos, but in order that the cosmos might be saved through him.

And I pray for us as we enter a new year that we might hold within us God's gift of love as a light upon our path and so be people full of love.

Now, as I focus on the collective lights of the candles, I think again of the magi and their extravagant gifts—gifts fit for a king. And I thank God for God's extravagant and fitting gifts to us—hope, peace, joy and love—not feelings but awarenesses—lights shining in the darkness reminding us that we are at center children of God.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans

The War of the Squirrels

Conflict

The War of the Squirrels

I sit in my kitchen mesmerized by the squirrel show at my neighbor's bird feeder. Two squirrels devise a way to scatter seed on the ground and feed companionably for about one minute. Now one begins to chase the other—around and around they go! Now one escapes into the tree circling quietly and waiting for its chance to pounce. The other carefully creeps out of the woods and begins to feed. Now the tree squirrel attacks and—around and around they go again. This goes on for about thirty minutes and I begin to wonder how much energy they are using in this war for seeds. It seems to me there is enough seed for both if they would just continue to feed companionably and not spend so much energy chasing each other.

Now I notice the news is on and turn my attention to the TV. So much squabbling over territory and power! It seems to me just another version of the war of the squirrels. Everyone wants to be top squirrel. If only all the energy expended in war could be redirected into co-existence! If only everyone lived by the Golden Rule:

In everything do to others what you would have them do to you.

Matt. 7:12

Now a memory surfaces: I hear my three children arguing in another room. Someone says, "I'm telling mom!" The teller leads the way to my door eager to justify her position before her sisters can speak. "Mom, they're not letting me have my turn!" The rebuttal: "It's not her turn! It's my turn!" "No—it's my turn!" Then the pushing and shoving begins. I stand between them and ask each one, "Do you like to be shoved? Then don't shove your sisters." Then the latent preacher in me says,

"Remember the Golden Rule—in everything do to others what you WANT them to do to you—not what they DID to you."

But many seem to operate by this perversion of the Golden Rule: Do to others—in an even more vengeful way—what they did to you. Others make up their own perversion of the Golden Rule. I once knew a man who told people he operated by his own golden rule: He who has the gold rules. Though—it seems to me—it was his gold that ruled him. I'm pretty sure his golden rule did not help him when death came calling. Wealth may appear to make a person top squirrel on earth, but is irrelevant in eternity.

Now—just as I begin to feel depressed about humanity—the news moves to a segment called "Making a Difference." I watch people apply energy to the global issue of clean drinking water. I watch people apply energy to the rebuilding of Joplin, Missouri. I watch people apply energy to helping the victims of the raging forest fires in Colorado. And I find my trust in God's grace and in humanity revived.

I pray now for the global community: That we may learn to harness our energy and expend it in ways that help people and that honor God's image in all people. That we truly treat other people the way we want to be treated.

Imagine such a world! Do your part by using the Golden Rule as your guide in everyday life.

Take a Lesson from the Sunflower

Confusion

Take a Lesson from the Sunflower

God is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?

Psalm 27:1

Have you ever noticed how sunflowers seem to turn their faces towards the sun? It's as if—on some deep level—they know the source of their life.

It makes we wonder how our lives would change if we could remember—on some deep level—that God is the source of our life. God is our light. We instinctively want to turn our faces to God, but the cares of life weigh us down and make us turn away. As we turn away the road before us grows dark and we wonder whether God has turned away from us. Feeling disconnected from our source of life, we look for security in other things—things that draw life from us.

When I feel as if I'm floundering in the dark, I often find myself singing a gospel song by Helen H. Lemmel:

O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There's light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

I know it is hard to face the wearying and troubling issues of life. We feel sometimes as if we do not have enough energy to turn to the light. And—sometimes—the light seems to reveal too much. We see what lurks in the dark corners of our minds and it frightens us. Then the word of God comes to us:

God is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear: God is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ... for God will hide me in God's shelter in the day of trouble.

... Wait for God, be strong; Let your heart take courage, Wait for God! [Psalm 27]

Take a lesson from the sunflower. Let your instinctive yearning for God turn you to the light. Let the light of the world shine upon you. Strengthen you. Comfort you. Sustain you.

More than the Sand

Death of a Loved One

More than the Sand

On Wednesday, May 16 (my birthday) I walk out of our trailer which is just up the hill from a small County Park in Michigan. I can hear the sound of the waves and feel the wind—I head back inside for my flannel shirt. Now I make my way behind the other trailers to the road and catch my first view of Lake Michigan. I walk down the hill, across the parking lot, towards the boardwalk overlooking the beach. I won't walk the beach today—I don't want to get sand-blasted. There are no people on the beach and I walk the boardwalk quietly hoping to see a great blue heron. No—not today. Only once in thirty-six plus years of coming to this spot have we ever seen a heron on the shore of Lake Michigan—eleven years ago on Memorial weekend.

I REMEMBER it as if it were yesterday! It was a day much like this—windy, chilly—the beach-goers had given up and headed home early. My husband and I walked hand-in-hand towards the boardwalk carrying within us our broken hearts. It had been just a month and a half since our daughter's death and it seemed like we were just going through the motions. Suddenly my husband put up his arm to stop me. Slowly he pointed to the beach and there it was. A great blue heron standing where the creek empties into the lake. As we watched, the great bird rose on its wings—must have been a six-foot wingspan—and flew north along the shore, over the dunes and into the trees. Our spirits rose as if on the wings of that great bird!

I tuck the memory away and gaze at the lake and SUDDENLY it seems as if I am there at Creation: I see the mountains rise out of the heart of the sea. I watch as plant and animal life is created. Now I watch God gather the dust of the earth and create humankind in God's image and breathe into their nostrils the breath of life.

I feel again the wind on my face and realize it is 2012 and I am on the boardwalk. I BREATHE deeply and my soul sings quietly:

*You moved on the waters, you called to the deep, then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep. And over the eons you called to each thing, "Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings." Spirit, Spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness calling and free. Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

Now I gaze at the blowing sand and it seems like a vast wilderness. I REMEMBER all the times in my life when I felt lost in the wilderness of my mind because something was ending and I couldn't see what was beginning. I or someone I love had been dreadfully sick. I had been grieving the loss of a loved one through death or divorce. I had lost a job. I was being bullied or abused. Times when I wondered whether my life was of any more value than a grain of sand.

And SUDDENLY it seems as if I am there in the wilderness with the children of Israel some 3,200 years ago. There are hundreds of people. All they've known is slavery—and now they make their way through the wilderness to the Promised Land. I watch as Moses comes down the mountain with the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone. I watch as they build a container—the Ark of the Covenant—in which they place reminders of God's promises: The commandments, a portion of manna and Aaron's rod which has budded. I watch as they cross the Jordan River and march around the city of Jericho. I see the walls fall and watch as the territory is divided among the 12 clans. I watch as the Judges lead the people—Samson, Deborah, Gideon. Now Samuel, who is both a judge and a priest, meets the sons of Jesse bypassing each warrior brothers and choosing the boy, David, a shepherd, poet and musician.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Soothe Your Soul by Margaret Vredeveld. Copyright © 2013 Ronald and Margaret Vredeveld Family Revocable Living Trust. Excerpted by permission of Abbott Press.
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Bibliographic Details

Title: Soothe Your Soul: Meditations to Help You ...
Publisher: AbbottPress
Publication Date: 2013
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: New