Originally, I set up my blog so I could discuss art, beauty and life. Having experienced the suicides of two very special people this year, one in March and one just a month ago, has got me thinking a lot more about just... well, life. And death.
A
friend of mine wrote this early this morning and I think it's so
important that we address these things. She gave me permission to post
this, so here it is, along with my comment at the bottom.
'This
is so not something that I would ever usually put out there for the
world to see but I feel led to and maybe somebody needs to hear it
today. So here goes...
Hi, my name is _____. I am a follower of
Jesus Christ. I love God more than anything and serving Him is what my
goal in life is. I have a happy marriage and wonderful children and I
struggle with depression. Yes, in spite of all that I struggle with
depression. Deep dark sometimes unrelenting depression. I take medicine
and I'm believing God for healing.
Here's the catch that I was
confronted with today.... would I still believe God is going to heal me
if my healing wasn't going to completely happen til I go to Heaven and
am made completely whole in Him? The answer is YES! It's yes because I
love and trust He who made me. It's yes because through my struggle I
can bring Him glory. It's yes because in my brokenness and not
togetherness He has not forsaken me and I'm not running from Him. It's
yes because when I meet other women who feel ashamed of what they are
going through can see me and receive comfort that just because we're
Christians that we still have struggles.
I hid my depression for
years because I have been told that I just needed to rely more fully on
God. That is a lie. He can and will heal but sometimes the answer is
medicine. Sometimes it is counseling. There is no condemnation is Christ
Jesus. My struggling is no surprise to Him and neither is anyone elses.
If you don't know Jesus I strongly suggest you get to know Him. Without
His constant guiding hand I would never make it day to day. There you
have it... my name is ______, I'm a Christian, I love God and He loves
me, I struggle with depression, I do take medication. I am not forsaken
in fact I am free. If this is my lot then I will bring Him glory through
it! ! If you need a friend... or a prayer... im here. Whoever you are I
love you and Jesus does too.
(my response) I'm so glad you
shared. This is a conversation that must be held! Some people walk
around with maybe cancer scars or something really obvious, and we
easily address those things. We all are wounded in many ways, but with
so many people, the things they are dealing with don't show... like
depression.
But those things that don't show in each of us need
to be shared... maybe more so than the wounds that are outwardly
visible. I would like to see the boundaries of silence broken down,
because that silence hurts us and alienates us from one another. Satan
revels in that lonely silence.
We need to talk about things like
depression and so many other socially 'taboo' subjects so we can help
each other. And in that journey of conversation, we will all realize
that EVERYONE carries a burden of some kind, that we are not unique or
alone in our pain, and that there is help. Help from one another, and
Hope in Christ. That Christ that created us as unique individuals,
exactly as we are, fitted exactly for His purpose. We have each other,
but more importantly, the One that created us freely holds out His hand
to each of us, and is ready to walk with us through any pain. Let's
begin the conversation.
.PNG)
Actually, it's a replica of the Rosetta Stone, down at the Museum of Printing History http://www.printingmuseum.org/collection.php. I just checked and realized they're 'rebranding' and their new name is the Printing Museum. 
