* Flourishing

“We can never know the joy of flourishing without experiencing the despair of languishing.” – Gretchen Saffles, Author of The Well-Watered Woman

Today has been a relatively good day. Would I say I’m flourishing? Not yet; but I can say that I am improving and that things are getting better. I suffered a heart attack in early February and have definitely had a lot of days of languishing. Recovery has been slow and I’m not one to be quiet and patient. I want to fix my problems and keep on moving forward. However, my body has told me to rest and recover (so have my doctors and my husband). Languishing is like being in a holding pattern and it’s hard.

When I read this quote by Gretchen Saffles, I understood exactly what she was talking about. We all have many seasons of ups and downs in our life but I think it’s during the seasons when we are down or languishing that we truly learn the most about ourselves. In order to appreciate how blessed we are, sometimes we have to experience trials that take us to unhappy places. I don’t like it; no one does.  However, it does make me more aware of what others are going through and I can empathize with them because I DO understand.

I pray you never have to go through a season of languishing but if you do just remember to embrace the joy of flourishing when it’s over! Don’t just survive; thrive!

Blessings, Cindy J