tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post3597256177674124116..comments2024-03-17T05:43:47.360-07:00Comments on Gwen Moss: When you think you can't survive but you doLeslie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06367872267145012395noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-66976839177298611552019-09-20T10:59:12.075-07:002019-09-20T10:59:12.075-07:00My heart weeps. I just wanna hold your hands, hug ...My heart weeps. I just wanna hold your hands, hug you or just be there and listen to you. At least I can read your raw emotions which is healing and inspiring as much as it is devastating. I silently sending you love and support. We are with you. Sophiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815961940321919832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-21368458028989068942019-09-19T23:46:46.989-07:002019-09-19T23:46:46.989-07:00Often in my thoughts, I still love visiting your b...Often in my thoughts, I still love visiting your blog you write so beautifully, even in heartache you give hope. Much love, Vikki XXXSheepskinsandfairylightshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183615151328861448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-15386334781725428272019-09-17T09:06:54.325-07:002019-09-17T09:06:54.325-07:00Hi Leslie,
I'm in London right now, wandering...Hi Leslie, <br />I'm in London right now, wandering around, and wanted you to know I have thought of you, especially on Sept 15th, and sent a few thoughts to the universe in and around this date for you. This is a beautiful post and wish we could all ease your pain, even a little bit. You hang in there girlie, there are so many of us that have you in our thoughts, and will always be there for you. Isn't blogging such a weirdo world, where kinship & sisterhood are as solid as face-to-face relationship? It sustains me. Love to you xx NancyStonecropsisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339562848477978976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-13906822189465434792019-09-12T03:58:26.627-07:002019-09-12T03:58:26.627-07:00Thank you for your beautiful thoughts & words....Thank you for your beautiful thoughts & words. Sending a hug. Xlouisekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05751320604349729594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-35372898636659188362019-09-12T03:58:03.419-07:002019-09-12T03:58:03.419-07:00Thank you for your beautiful thoughts & words....Thank you for your beautiful thoughts & words. Sending a hug. Xlouisekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05751320604349729594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-51876403498407672019-09-05T18:44:34.872-07:002019-09-05T18:44:34.872-07:00This post is so enlightening, Leslie. I know that ...This post is so enlightening, Leslie. I know that my way of dealing with grief and pain has always been to withdraw and be quiet. I always felt like I was doing something wrong, but you've made me understand that it is a time of contraction...protecting myself and trying to heal. So profound. You have shared your heart in so many ways while you have gone through the unthinkable. <br />I'm sending love your way, Leslie...I know this month must be so hard for all of you. I would love to have one of Patrick's cards...I'll email you. xoLinda @ Itsy Bits And Pieceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12090973681675943970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-23758177180208648492019-09-05T08:54:39.256-07:002019-09-05T08:54:39.256-07:00Hello Leslie,
I have been praying for you. I too w...Hello Leslie,<br />I have been praying for you. I too was a totally different person after I had Sam. I also knew I would become a stay at home mom. I stepped away from my career as an accountant and became Sam and Atticus' mom. Looking back, I would have it no other way.<br />That is exactly why I clicked with you so many years ago on the blog. A mom to boys.<br /><br />As you share Patrick with us and your journey, I have learned so much.. most of all to remember to LOVE everyday.<br /><br />Love you,<br />Carla<br />Carla from The Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107829617899979937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-55876917215648558262019-09-01T11:56:24.497-07:002019-09-01T11:56:24.497-07:00The horror and anguish of what you've been, an...The horror and anguish of what you've been, and are still going, through is not lost on anyone who reads your words. But your resilience, contracting and expanding, also shines through. There are times when we reach deep within ourselves and find strengths that we did not even know existed. That is what you are doing and, as I've probably already told you, you're an inspiration.Loreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12520908604580765632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-74749203972170752222019-08-30T22:01:31.729-07:002019-08-30T22:01:31.729-07:00It's good to hear from you, Leslie, and like s...It's good to hear from you, Leslie, and like so many others, I'm touched by your words of wisdom and especially, how you have weathered this heart wrenching event and aftermath. More than anything, I'm forced to examine how I sometimes retreat from hurt and conflict, and that one day, life could change dramatically. The loss of a child would devastate me. <br /><br /> I can identify with you on those emotions you felt when you held Patrick in your arms after giving birth. I was a totally different person than the one who walked into the hospital that morning. There was such joy, and a feeling of someone in my world who was far more important than me. I felt totally fulfilled for the very first time in my life. <br /><br />As always, I'm sending that big virtual hug. And a belated Happy Birthday to Patrick.<br /><br />Jane Blondie's Journalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12988377413260331618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-3431493058199836782019-08-30T15:04:29.200-07:002019-08-30T15:04:29.200-07:00LOVED THE SWEDISH LADY and YOUR CONVERSATION!
OF C...LOVED THE SWEDISH LADY and YOUR CONVERSATION!<br />OF COURSE I WANT A CARD............I did as I was told and went OVER to YOUR EMAIL!<br />SENDING HUGS.............XOXOLa Contessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01682902106545680159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-81068968803549626722019-08-30T09:16:53.983-07:002019-08-30T09:16:53.983-07:00You are such a wonderful teacher, Leslie. Your wor...You are such a wonderful teacher, Leslie. Your words as an artist always awaken things buried within me, things worth re-examining. I so honor your willingness to stay awake. To write down these thoughts is to commit to wakeful sobriety and brave the fire death has lit. I think we have journeyed quite differently in our faith which I count as a rare blessing since I can deepen from yours and maybe offer gifts from mine. I grew up sheltered within a church and never felt my faith protected me because...it did not. I wasn't tempted to buy into any rhetoric that I was more valuable or more precious cargo because of my beliefs or prayers or identity as a Jesus follower than say souls in the Amazon forest who call Love something other than Christ. I was covered in prayer yet harmed. I was not protected at age 4 or 20 or 30. But I was sustained by a holy force. It has taken work to learn to see and lean into emptiness after so many sermons about fullness. Since my faith has always wavered, I think I realized it wasn't what would nourish or sustain me - nor would steadfast belief or an absence of doubt. But the Word and Presence. Ahhhh. To feel the radiant gaze of mercy and love upon my little diamond soul. To sense that the very pain in the wake of injustice and suffering is in a sense the divine weight of loving hands holding me, joining me, guiding me into a more trustworthy realm...it's the stuff of transformation I think. It still feels unnatural and naive to look up when things fall apart -- while I cannot profess to know what those depths of hell feel like to your grieving motherheart -- there are all these lovely fragrant meadows and healing waterfalls flowing beyond "knowing," beyond "certainties." I long to be in that flow. xoxmichelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04147970920141315262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-87971126048834249512019-08-30T00:44:53.970-07:002019-08-30T00:44:53.970-07:00Your acceptance is so remarkable, although you may...Your acceptance is so remarkable, although you may feel like you are not accepting, that it's still a fight to survive, remember, function, expand, contract, but all along the way it's a choice to keep going, with grace. Writing here, with grace. That's the part I admire when I see it, but it's also the most elemental human part to recognise. Keep writing, keep sharing, even when you want to turn inward, because what you share is golden. Lou xLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13457538074763854583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-54996538195659995012019-08-29T20:46:57.012-07:002019-08-29T20:46:57.012-07:00I have been thinking of you lately, especially as ...I have been thinking of you lately, especially as September gets closer. I have never thought about the idea of contraction and expansion but it makes sense and I know I have felt it on different levels before. Thanks for checking in to let us know how you are doing. Sending you love and strength.<br />xo ShelleyCalypso In The Countryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10264873052810117169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-92132588015655816092019-08-29T20:27:17.950-07:002019-08-29T20:27:17.950-07:00Leslie,
I always love hearing from you and your on...Leslie,<br />I always love hearing from you and your ongoing wisdom through this impossibly difficult time in your life. You've given us lessons along the way of dealing with life's challenges. I realize all of us might respond in a different way, need different things, but you've set a wonderful example of how you managed to inch along. The woman that lives near the site of the accident was nice to talk to you and share her empathy.<br />Keeping you in my prayers.<br />xo,<br />Karen<br />Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08064699521293763744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-83206004479183827752019-08-29T20:04:00.217-07:002019-08-29T20:04:00.217-07:00I was wondering where you'd been lately and I ...I was wondering where you'd been lately and I could only assume that you were having an especially hard time...I sent you a private message on IG simply saying I was thinking of you; I didn't want to overwhelm you. I totally understand the need to retreat, especially on Patrick's birthday and on his upcoming anniversary date. I do the same. Phil's anniversary date is coming up on September 25th and it will unbelievably be 10 years. The week leading up to that date (really, I hate the entire month of September) is especially hard for me; almost worse than the date itself. The anticipation is horrible. <br /><br />There's a lot of profound wisdom in your post. I need to go back and read it again, more slowly, and try to take some things away from it. Maybe even journal about it. Like I always say, your posts are painful for me to read, but I tend to bury some of my pain, so maybe it's a good thing for me. Thank you for your gift of sharing your heart and journey with us through your beautiful words.<br /><br />xoxo<br />MelanieMelaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08659968511488397366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-31013792979461092092019-08-29T17:43:46.916-07:002019-08-29T17:43:46.916-07:00"Grief, bereavement, the personal loss of a d..."Grief, bereavement, the personal loss of a dear loved one is complicated. There are no words, no consolation, no condolence. Healing is a scaled process that shifts randomly, up and down a continuum, without any sense of progress, and without any conclusion. Grief, like enduring love, is permanent. Every once in a while someone says or does something that is helpful." I find this continuum analogy to speak to me - grief ebbs and flows, at times more manageable and at other times extremely difficult. I recently had a weekend where I could feel I was at the edge of going over into sobbing that I feared I would have difficulty stopping - actually I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop at all if I started sobbing (not crying, but sobbing and wailing). I managed to hold back the tide, but it was frightening and very difficult. After 3 1/2 years without my son these times still come and I know they will come for the rest of my life - likely more infrequently as time passes, but they will still come. People wonder how we cope, how we survive - we do because we have no choice.Jeanninehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08899506698574749866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-62515197078584389402019-08-29T15:05:34.354-07:002019-08-29T15:05:34.354-07:00I was just thinking about you when I opened my ema...I was just thinking about you when I opened my email and saw your post. I am always amazed at your strength and your giving heart. I will remember this idea of a contraction before expansion. It's true. I can see it in my own life. Thank you for writing this. Sending love. Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17097193408202655479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5028673509424034947.post-1736221661063967312019-08-29T13:34:52.044-07:002019-08-29T13:34:52.044-07:00You've been on my mind in recent weeks (well, ...You've been on my mind in recent weeks (well, you always are but even more so the past two weeks)...I learned that a new friend at church who is in our Life Group and attending a weekly Bible study with me, lost her son 8 years ago. I can tell it's still raw. We are studying Lysa Terkheurst's book, "It's Not Supposed to be This Way". She had shared with me that she wasn't sure she could do it, but ultimately decided as she said "to put her big girl panties on and just do it". Thank for for sharing from your heart again sweet friend. Simply LKJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06691860606573110974noreply@blogger.com