Have you ever had a major crisis come up in your life or a big door closed on something you were putting a lot of hope in? Maybe in a career or relationship or something else you hold dearly? It is devastating when a dream, a hope, a plan goes careening off a cliff edge. When it’s gone, we not only lose the thing itself but also our castle of dreams built around it. That’s why the feeling of loss can feel disproportionate to the loss itself. It’s so painful.
In the early 90s, my parents built a house. Dad wanted a new house but Mom wanted an old house. So, they compromised and built a new house with salvaged lumber from an old sawmill. Dad and Mom spent years saving up for the building materials. It was a sacrifice for all of us. Then they spent a few years actually building it, doing almost all of the work themselves. Mom had just finished putting up the wallpaper in the basement and we were about to move in when something devastating happened.
There was a major flood that year. Even though the house was high up on a hill, about a mile from the river, the waters got so high that it caused the hill to start sliding. The foundation walls, the ones Mom had just covered in wallpaper, cracked apart. As the waters rose, the hill kept sliding, and the cracks kept growing. It was clear. To save the house they were going to have to move it. But that was a big problem. They couldn’t find any land for sale, and they had already spent years saving to build the house. Moving it was going to be an unthinkable expense.
Through a series of unpredictable events, what started as a heartbreaking disaster ended up being one of the biggest blessings for my parents. They ended up moving the house to a farm 10 miles away. Where the house once sat on a 2 acre lot, it now sits on a 40 acre farm. The disaster somehow brought my parents 20x more land. The farm has pasture and woods and a creek. It was a wonderful place to grow up. It’s still my favorite place in the world. My parents really got a miracle.
When visitors come to the house now, they look up at the old beams and often ask how old the house is. They are always surprised to hear it’s a new house. Apparently compromise my parents made with each other between the old and the new was quite successful.
Over and over in life, it seems like when you are faced with the biggest struggles, the deepest, darkest valleys and you are getting snagged on all sides by briar patches, that is a time to rejoice that something better than before is up ahead. It’s so hard to let go of the old dream. The pain is so real, so hurtful, so confusing. But in the midst of grieving the loss of the old dream, I want to encourage you to dare to think that just maybe, what if your new dream is going to be even better than what you had before.
17 Comments
Such incredible stories of surviving and growing. This has been a rocky few months for me as well, but I’m finding such inspiration from these shared stories. Thank you!
Hello,
This is a good heartfelt story of personal history and triumph., which struck a cord for me! I too, have had a very bumpy emotionally draining life, I am now at age 70 re-inventing myself using my many creative juices and skills I have learned, and learning to keep moving forward! I am learning (new) about canning, health related foods and the benefits of making your own food from your own kitchen. I have survived Cancer, Covid and more…My new task it to use your linens in different ways to make everyday items in an unusual manner…..I studied (NYC) to be a pattern-maker, have years of alterations and sewing experience(s)as well as still work two days a week sewing with a local industrial sports product maker. Why share my story? Just to let your readers understand that using quality products, grit and an over active imagination can take you places of true wonder and dreams. In short, love your product, the choices offered, readers, and the pics of many others work, soon you will see mine! Thank you for the consistent quality with products, services and of course the human stories…Many Blessings..keep creating it keeps you young and healthy Deb Baldwin PS. LOVE your hat!
Deborah, I am reading your post with such joy and love! Your statement “I too, have had a very bumpy emotionally draining life” just about knocked me over. I can so relate, as I’ve always felt that the hits just keep coming, in spite of being a person who tends to see the best in everything, and never takes long to pick myself up and keep going. I have a disabled adult son, and recently, my husband of 33 years has become chronically ill and disabled as well. Life seemingly keeps getting harder. I love your words about “reinventing” yourself, and I recently came to a place in my own spirit where I feel that I, too, must continue changing and becoming a new me in order to keep growing and meeting my challenges. I am 55, and after reading your post, I will meet my challenges with new enthusiasm and vigor, knowing that there is more, so much more, to me, to growth, and to life! Thank you so much for this today! ~ Ann
So love this story of loss and redemption. Thank you for sharing your family story. I am walking through a time of loss and your words gave me hope and renewed faith that God is working out His good plans in my life.
Thanks very much for sharing this inspirational and uplifting story. While so many here can relate looking back on their challenges I am trying to get through my greatest hardship so far – the loss of our family home and almost everything that was in it to wildfire. I have kept this story open on my computer to look at periodically ever since you wrote it. It reminds me to keep looking for the silver lining – that everything happens for a reason – and that there are brighter days ahead.
What a wonderful and inspirational story. And what a legacy of love and the ability to persevere your parent’s modeled for you and your siblings.
Thanks Jo. Life has been a wonderful ride with my parents. I’m very thankful for their modeling role in our lives.
So true. Twelve years ago I was forced to leave my job as junior high Spanish teacher mid-year due to a health issue that suddenly developed and never left. I deeply grieved the loss of a career I loved and felt I was meant for. But now I am an established fiber artist, and passionately love what I do. And it gives me an opportunity to put to use the sewing skills my mother taught me.. I use lots of Fabric Store white linen to naturally dye, botanically print and sew into garments. And many of the scraps find their way into stitched collaged wall hangings. I still miss teaching but am so happy that my way opened up new possibilities.
Wow I love this story! It’s wonderful how things seem to turn out, even when it’s not what we expect, and we experience real sadness and loss along the way. Thanks for sharing this. And great choice on linen from Fabrics-Store! 😉
A lovely secular story; it’s funny that when we reveal to each other our stories of hardship, it brings us together much more than our happy stories. A year of loss and emerging regrowth is our common experience and we can rejoice together in what ever way we choose.
Hi Giana,
That is so true. It’s funny how that works. It seems like we can all relate to loss and difficulty better than we can relate to others’ happiness. I always enjoy when you go to a conference and the speaker shares some of the mistakes they have made over the years instead of just all the good things.
First time reader also, thank you!
Perfect depiction of the story of Our Lord , the Lamb of God on this Palm Sunday!!!
What was hoped for was destroyed and the result of that devastation is 100 times better!
As my Grandmother Olive ( who taught me to sew) would say… make a silk purse out of a sows ear!
Hi Beth,
I hadn’t thought about it in regards to Palm Sunday but you are totally right. The good news of Easter changes everything and makes it all worth it. Your Grandma Olive sounds like someone we all need in our lives 🙂
Hi Sarah,
I had never read any of your posts even though I get daily emails from your website/store…I don’t quite know why that is??? But after reading today’s post I went back and read several more and without saying as much, you are modeling Jesus’ words and teachings to whoever reads your posts; kindness, patience, understanding, seeing things from another’s viewpoint. This is so much what the world needs to hear! Thank you for your heartwarming stories! And I LOVE the pic of your parents in ’72 in today’s post! Looks like we are about the same age, your parents and I. And your description of the depth of loss is so very true!! I have suffered my life falling apart more times than I want to think about, and each time the loss…everything you describe, was so bitterly true! But indeed God had a better plan for me and now I am “Thankful for the Scars” as the song goes!! They are the scars of God’s incredible faithfulness to me!! I am SO blessed!!!
Thank you for your beautiful stories and for sharing them with us all!
Mssue
Very well said and so true Sarah. So many of life’s difficulties are wrapped in the disguise of God’s blessings. What a wonderful legacy of love your parents built along with your childhood home. I really like the photo of your family running around the yard in your homemade ‘corn’ maze. In August of 1972 when this picture was taken of your parents, I was 16 years old, and going through a most difficult trial. I am now 65 and the blessing that came through that difficulty has helped structure my life, and changed my course in more ways than I ever thought possible. So, yes, the heartache of the moment was worth it. Thank you for sharing such an encouraging and hopeful message of trust and perseverance.
Oh Debby, this is just so special to read. It makes me teary eyed. Thank you for sharing part of your story of challenge and blessing.
Hi Sue,
Your comment is special to read. It’s neat to hear of your story of things falling apart and coming back together better than before. Providing us with good things really is on His mind. I’m so thankful for that. Thanks for sharing this.