Christian Chat

@Former-Member

@LostAngel

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Hugs @Former-Member....

For my part, church is a sort of recharge time. And being part of a group of Christians is a reasonably good checking mechanism. Keeps us on track.

But having said that, it's not always easy. Last week I was feeling pretty stressed over everything happening, but enjoying the release of doing some singing, when I was blindsided by the words of one of the songs being really close to home.

"For those whose joy is morning sun,
And those weeping through the night,

For those who speak of battles won,
And those struggling in the fight..."

And yeah, I'd been doing a lot of "weeping through the night" lately, and "struggling in the fight" has been life as normal for a looong time.

I do appreciate the fact that there's room for grief and sorrow within faith. That's important. But I wasn't prepared for something that set me crying uncontrollably. I ended out ducking through a nearby door into a side room to unmask and clear my nose... and then through another side door to the nearest hand sanitiser bottle... But I wasn't much up for singing for the rest of the service.

I'm not sure if anyone actually saw me crying. If so, they didn't say, but a few did catch up afterwards to check how we're going, and how our family's going. Early on with our Older Daughter's MI struggles, we'd try to not say too much to protect her privacy (she goes to the same church) but 10+ years down the track, a lot of people now know there's problems, and we appreciate the support they give us.

I guess that's another reason why it's worth going to church for us. Do you have your "trusted people" at your church that support you @Former-Member? (If not... us Forum-ites are here....)

Sorry @Former-Member sometimes I am way in the outfield ...

Here is a picture of Esther

@Smc Your sharing was beautiful. Thank you.

I have struggled with tears being triggered while singing in church. It drove me away from attendance mostly although for 12 years I made a beautiful friend who supported me, and said it was important that I cried on the sanctuary and not to worry about it.

Sometimes it is about the individual church. I think I am finding a church congregation for me again. They are not all the same.

@Appleblossom. yeah, I realise that sadly not all churches are supportive and/or understanding. We've seen all sorts, and while most church groups do have their strengths, some don't build the kind of personal connections you need to really be able to open up with people, some don't understand that faith and MI can actually co-exist... and some make the mistake of thinking there's no space for tears in church. Glad you had a friend who realised they weren't out of place. xx

Oh @Smc that song would have set me right over the edge.

I haven’t been to church for a while but I really want to return soon especially now that a couple of dear friends have relocated nearby and will be going to the same church.

Maybe very soon I’ll be in fellowship again.

Thank you so much for sharing SMC

❤️🙏

Thank you @Smc She passed during Covid, but I am rembering all the positives and able to take this more recent grief a lot more easily than those in the past. Somehow because the sharing was right. Just a lucky fit I guess.

Today I spoke to someone after church who did have the right education. The last time I attended this church another ex minister gave me the loan of his book on theology. So having the right conversations for 4 visits and feeling good about its priorities and structures.

Hey @Former-Member I may not have made it to now without your unique whole story.

Thanks Bella

Aww shucks Appleblossom - Bella is some use after all lol
Hugzz (((((@Eve7)))))💕
Love that Ps56 image Smc Thank you 😢🙏
Where's our Faith-and-Hope and Shaz51 👋

hugzz💕

@Former-Member 😀👋❤❤❤🥰🥰