The Diamond Inside the Rock

by: NSA member Carolyn Garland

Being talented at scrapbooking may be my gift from God, but that is not all God means for it to be.  God has also used my scrapbooking as a way of healing my hurts, finding my self, and returning my joy. 

Recently on my road of life I have gone for a little detour.  On the outside of my situation you could say it’s a very sad thing, but under the hood God was just planning for a little “tune-up”.

About three months ago I found out I was pregnant with my third baby; I was extremely excited and already full of love for my new little one.  Little did I know that a month later I would be told that my baby was no longer living.  Naturally I knew that I would start to pull away and hide myself from my friends, my responsibilities, and my hobbies because of the depression that would ensue… so I planned to do the opposite!

I started going thru the photos of my 9 month old at birth and with tears in my eyes I planned to scrap my way thru it!  Merely two days after I lost my baby I had a scheduled crop at my church that I was determined not to talk my way out of.  Just looking at the photos of my son gave me feelings of sadness for the baby I didn’t get to know, but I was also overwhelmed with extreme joy in the babies that God has already blessed me with.

I realized that as I scrapped those photos that day, God was using it to have me re-live a blessing in my life.  Instead of focusing on the hard times, He had me residing in the delight that is not only scrapbooking my children, but it is also rediscovering the joy sometimes hidden inside us.

My encouragement to anyone who experiences loss… do not run from it, instead let it help you embrace what God has placed in our lives and hearts to expose the diamond inside the rock.

Comments

[diana]

what a beautiful and hopeful article you have written. your angel baby is a blessing to you indeed
sincerely
diana