Wow this room is huge…
Have you
walked into a room full of people for the first (or several) times and
thinking – this place is so big and I don’t think I can do this…. That
first time when you go to an event, family function, dinner party…… Those first few times when you had to talk
yourself into going because you just knew you had to take that first step….. You wonder if you can do it or you walk in
and think you cannot do it and want to walk out but you know you have to try to
make that first attempt……
One of the
first events I had been invited to after Dan died was a wedding of all things. It took me quite a while before I sent the
RSVP. Weddings seemed to be were the
hardest to attend and sometimes still are.
It’s not the wedding that is difficult, it’s the reception or dance that
often follows which is difficult. Fortunately,
I had been invited to attend another event that same evening. I knew most of the people attending that
event were single and not a couple event.
So I did attend the wedding, the dinner and excused myself after dinner
to attend the other event.
There comes
a time when you just know you need to take that step. Perhaps for those first few times you may
need a plan. Some ideas may be:
- · If possible bring a friend with you.
- · Set a time limit to being there.
- · Arrive late or plan on leaving early.
- · If the function is a sit down gathering, make plans to meet someone there to sit with.
- · The first time you go to church, sit with someone you know.
- · Have an alternative plan in case you feel you need a reason to leave.
It certainly
isn’t easy making that first step. However,
God has promised us in Psalm 28:7: The Lord is my strength and my shield, my
heart trusts in him and I am helped. After
that first event on my own, I know I could do it but I also knew I truly had to
rely on God to help me through it. I knew
for me the time had for me to decide if I was going to stay stuck or in a rut
by staying home alone or trust God would see me through getting out.
I will admit,
I was ready to get home later that evening and the next day, I stayed home all
day. But I did realize that I did get
out and I did just fine. Did I miss not
being a couple to that wedding – certainly but with God’s help I did it. Each time does get easier.
Is life
always easy – absolutely not! With God’s
help all things are possible – Matthew 19:26.
Blessings to each of you. May
you feel God’s arms wrapped around you as you walk this new journey in your life!
