Living the Dash

Lately, my heart has been carrying a lot.

Grief comes in waves, and recently, one came crashing in out of nowhere. Recently, as I was preparing for a big moment in my day, a wave of emotion swept over me. And honestly… I felt like it was Mom. Almost like she was right there with me. I could feel her presence, her love, her quiet encouragement. It caught me off guard, but in the most comforting way.

I miss her so much. The everyday things remind me of her – the way she laughed, the way she always knew just what to say, the way she poured so much love into everyone around her. Some days the missing feels heavier than others, and in this moment, it surprised me how close the grief still is… but also how close she still feels.

And yet, alongside that deep ache, I’ve also felt such gratitude. God has been incredibly near. In the tears. In the quiet moments. In the strength I didn’t know I had. I’ve found myself whispering “Thank You God ” more often, even if it’s just for enough strength to make it to lunchtime without crying in the Dollar General parking lot. (Hey, it’s real.)

Big choices in life come and go – decisions about jobs, relationships, our direction, and our dreams. Sometimes they feel overwhelming. But through it all, I’ve realized there is a steady support system that never fails. The Holy Spirit gently nudges and comforts me, reminding me I’m not alone in these decisions. And I’m thankful for the people around me who encourage me, pray for me, and believe in me even when I struggle to believe in myself.

It’s a strange thing to carry grief and gratitude at the same time, but I think that’s where healing happens. I don’t have it all figured out. (Truthfully, I barely had my outfit figured out this morning.) But I’m learning that trusting God doesn’t take the pain away – it just means I don’t walk through it alone.

So if you’re feeling tender-hearted too, I just want you to know: it’s okay. You’re not alone. There’s space for sorrow and thankfulness to coexist. There’s space for missing and remembering. There’s space for hope.

God is big enough to hold all of it.
And somehow, we keep going – carried by grace, wrapped in love, and guided by faith.
This life may be full of tangled hair days, sweet tea spills, and hard goodbyes – but y’all – it’s also full of grace. And that’s what keeps us going.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18