This week marks another step forward in closing an important chapter in my life. The remaining furniture and other items in my aunt’s house were removed for donation. I haven’t been back to the house to see it empty because I know it will be hard emotionally. I also know it is a necessary step. Releasing is an integral part of moving forward.
Here are some thoughts on the necessity of letting go to move forward:
Holding On vs. Letting Go
We have several hydrangea bushes in our yard. I love the colorful blooms these plants produce, but I’ve noticed the blooms hang on even after their color fades and leaves fall. Often, it takes a persistent wind or heavy rain to force the dead blooms to release. Sometimes, the old blooms hang on until new growth pushes them off.
What are you holding onto that you need to release? Fear? Bitterness? Resentment? Unforgiveness? Or maybe for you it’s things rather than emotions. Do you find it difficult to let go of possessions you no longer use or need. Do you cling to things you don’t even remember you have simply because you don’t want to look through and make the decision to let go? Often, new growth is stunted by failing to release the old.
Part of me wants to keep my aunt’s house, one that holds so many memories for our family. Letting go of this house is more difficult in some ways than selling my parent’s house because it is the last house I’ve owned constructed by my father.
My father built the house in 1966 for my grandparents and aunts and I feel a special connection to any edifice built with my father’s hands. We celebrated countless holidays in this home. It was a place of love and joy. Removing the contents of the house and preparing it for sale are a hard, but necessary step in moving forward.
Sometimes forward motion hinges on making difficult decisions and following through with actions that catapult you beyond hesitation.
Embrace a Changing Season and Write a New Chapter
Daffodils are among the first heralds of spring. They show face despite biting winds and cold temperatures. Their presence reminds us a season change is not far away.
Closing a life season is challenging, plagued with what ifs and uncertainty. Yet ending a life chapter paves the way for writing a new one. Moving forward involves trusting, believing the best lies ahead, and tapping into God-breathed wisdom in decision-making.
Closing a chapter and writing a new one may feel daunting. Staring at a blank white screen or empty piece of paper causes feelings of limitations and incapability. But with God’s help, you can release what holds you back, face fears, and begin a new season of life.
“From the beginning I declare how things will end; from times long past, I tell what is yet to be, saying: ‘My intentions will come to pass, I will make things happen as I determine they should’” (Isaiah 46:10 VOICE).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is a writer, blogger, speaker, and freelance editor. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotionals published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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