Beware of Despair

Beware of despair.

A sneaky little bugger that tries to slip in—

Especially in the moments that you least expect a visit.

Suddenly your chest feels tight and you worry you might start to panic.

Panic’s tentacles spreading out and all around till it grabs you in its snare.

If you aren’t careful it will pull you down into the pit of despair.

But, there is another way.

You can thwart the despair and panic’s plans.

You make the tea, the one called “immune + stress” support.

With the lemon balm that soothes the knots in your stomach.

Pop the kettle on, let the water boil, read the words on the tea bag—they remind you that you are a child of this big and beautiful world.

Pour the water.

Open the notebook.

Create the art.

The art that comes in forms of words.

Write and sip

Feel the despair lose its grip.

Pop the popcorn

Pour the m&ms on top.

Get under the comforter and cozy up.

Reminisce on the snow, the way your eyes squinted at the brightness of the sun bouncing off the snow covered ground.

Remember how the birds flew all about, chirping, fluttering, flying all around.

Gratitude sparks as you listened to the squeals of the delighted children as they slid down the bride on makeshift sleds.

Joy is infections and you can’t help but smile as you passed by dogs leaping and bounding through the snow. Stopping on their way for a gentle hand nuzzle.

Dolphins still swim wild and free in pink and gold colored waves.

People still profess their love.

Babies are born.

Art is made.

Love is felt—given and received.

Relationships are sustained despite differences that try to divide.

Have courage.

Keep going.

Cling to hope.

Create art—it always helps.

In the worst of moments, the darkest of days, and even in the brightest of times—God’s love continues crashing into the world. May we be open enough to sense it.

God’s love always finds a way.

Beware of despair—it loves to whisper words that trigger your fear and make it grow into panic.

Remember, you have the power to thwart the plan.

Pick yourself up, care for yourself well, pray aloud

Naming all the things you are grateful for,

Count the glimmers you have found,

Let the people you trust in.

Create art.

Then share.

Remember, you are loved, God is at work, and Love will always prevail.

The seductive words of despair challenge us to give in, to fall down the rabbit hole and give up the hope that keeps us alive. If I am not careful, I can find myself triggered, anxious, panicking and in the midst of despair. But I have been working hard to remember to care for myself well—that there is another way. I have been turning to my journal along with her sparkly gel pens and I have been writing. Poetry has been flowing and it has been healing. I think art is one of the most powerful things we can create. For too long I have let fear and my perfectionism hold me back from creating.

Poetry prevents the perfectionistic tendencies from getting in the way. Because it is less about a true structure and style and more about the words, phrases, thoughts, and comfort I receive from writing them. They first are written in my journal, written by hand, and then are edited and added to when I finally sit down at the computer. As always, I share with the hope that it might help another.

Friends, be gentle with yourselves and care for yourself well.

Grace and Peace,

Margaret