Summer Adventure: Day 27

by Becky Darfus

Our topic of discussion and learning this morning was “grief and loss.” We were encouraged to allow ourselves to appropriately grieve our losses and not attempt to “stuff it in.” To close out the morning, we were given the opportunity to write out our prayers to the Lord on seven different posters, all with their own topic. The topics were “identity,” “safety,” “competence,” “support system,” “stable nest or home,” “quickly and easily attained goals,” and “other significant losses.” Afterward, we gathered and those who wanted to share one of their prayers could do so. I’m not entirely sure how something can be so exhausting and yet so appreciated at the same time.

I wanted to share my prayer with you in the category of “stable nest or home.” As you may or may not know, we have lived in our home since 2005. When we moved in, Noah was 4 and Elijah was 18-months-old. They don’t really remember anything else. The idea of selling the house has been heartbreaking for the boys and myself. This is home. I’m being a little vulnerable in sharing this prayer with you all, but wanted to give you a glimpse of what is going on in our hearts as we proceed on the path God has called us to.

“Lord,

I didn’t realize a structure could mean so much. There are so many memories here: moving in, meeting neighbors who would become like family, hordes of kids in the cul-de-sac, Nerf gun fights, the nursery, opening our doors to baby-sitting kids, Christmas mornings, snow days, Thanksgiving meals …

I realize it’s the people that make a house a home. Please help us to let go. Please bring a new family into its doors who will cherish it like we do. Please help the boys to not only survive this transition, but to eventually thrive. Thank you for giving us this house. Thank you for the years we had in our community. Again, I ask for your help in letting go.

Amen.”