The Gift of Sadness, Nostalgia & Practices for Winter Seasons | Jonathan & Melissa Helser

[@SonSeeker277]

So good… I’ve been in a night season and suffering for almost 6 months and just lost my mother today. Thank you and God bless you. Just remember, the grandchildren are coming- those years of Christmas will be better!!! ❤

[@JennaGraceMay]

Just sitting here by the Christmas tree at 11pm tearing up as I cut tags off my babies Christmas clothes to wash for her. Thinking about how I only get this moment once, and although I am tired and want to be in bed I’m soaking it in. So thankful to be making these memories.

[@gregorypalovchik8998]

Grief is love's expression of loss. Praise be to God for what a great love He has placed in us!

[@Mrs_Guac_and_Glock]

There's such a gentleness to Melissa's voice. Her words felt like the hug that I needed 💗

[@TylerS-f1p]

Thanks so much😊 This podcast raised some things in me and I appreciate it so much. I was raised in a family system that we weren’t allowed to be emotionally honest and often had to stuff our pain and sadness in a box year after year so the family could continue pretending everything was great on the surface . joy and happiness were made to be the same and were requested to plaster on fake smiles often.there was no margin for us to process our emotions . For a man to experience any other emotion other than rage and anger meant weakness and something to be ashamed of in that family system . Very much an honor shame family system. I also married a spouse with similar family dynamics. To this day when I process something. I do have to fight feelings of shame when teers come. I do ok now being emotionally honest before God in private, but it’s a real struggle bringing vulnerability that way to anyone else because early on I tried to process those emotions with others and they couldn’t handle my heart well and walked away from friendship with me, which deepened that stuff it in a box thinking and created an unhealthy reclusiveness .I praise God and Jesus every day for your ministry and those like Wild at heart for giving me permission as a man to say it is ok to go there into the messy. To say God can handle my messy emotions. Thankyou again, I praise God for this message. I’m currently working through your Cultivate devotional volume 1 and Hoping to one day to attend your men’s retreat . Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and happy new year!

[@carrieannfloyd35]

May you receive the grace and love you need from Jesus Christ

[@shandrafreeman7356]

Wow so timely. This is exactly where I am in life. I have a son named Cadence who is soon to be 19 and I so miss the younger years. Those Christmas Eve nights and Christmas mornings. Feeling the sadness and not pretending with God. I want to learn to look at time differently as well. No longer as a thief but learning to dance... Well said. Love this

[@DarlaHeflin]

I was just in my son’s room praying and crying and reflecting on him as a child. He will be 18 in March and off to Asbury in August. So proud and happy of where he is and where he is going while so sad this chapter is ending… then I see this on my feed! I NEEDED THIS. I heard in prayer … “He gives and takes away.” Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

[@sasha.horning]

Asbury university or seminary? I live in Wilmore! ❤

[@DarlaHeflin]

@ University. How cool! I have a close family member 7 mins away in Nicholasville so that gives me peace of mind. We really love it in Wilmore.

[@donnaclemmons9741]

This. is. so. Precious &tender. Needed for “such a time as this” in our own life. Joy for God restoring our family/sad we aren’t together. One son is in prison😢but free in Christ!😊Thank you guys!❤

[@WhitneyCorn]

What a gift you have with friends who will listen and just be there and not try to “fix” you. I was chronically ill for 12 years, well for two years and then I got sick again 2 years ago. 90% of my friends and relationships have walked away from my life or been identical to Job’s friends. I’ve even been blamed and shamed for being sick (not having enough faith to get well). I would love for a friend to come by or call and just sit with me. I am blessed to have my mother and my one best friend who are with me in the grief and moments of joy. But I don’t share because after years of being berated or rejected due to their frustration I don’t feel safe reaching out with how I’m truly feeling because I’m not met with gentleness and meekness. Having said all of that, when I am able to get out of this bed, I will minister and love in a completely different way. This season has shifted the entire paradigm of how I will love people, especially those who are sick and/or suffering. I’m thankful for what I’m learning in this season

[@carrieannfloyd35]

Christmas is always bitter sweet for me as I always wanted to be a mother … my husband and I still grieve this loss 20 years later … all the experiences we will never have …. But this doesn’t take away Gods love for me… even in my grief there is grace

[@franklincheney3653]

I've watched your 'Revival's In The Air' ministered at Bethel, a hundred + times. God always changes me, and never a dry eye. It is a historic moment that God continues to bless. LET THE WIND BLOW!!!!

[@michellemullinscoaching]

Wow!!! Melissa your words are resonating deeply with my experience too. What’s crazy is I had a similar revelation/conversation with the Lord about the waltz except it was the opposite…I was processing something heavy in prayer and it was as if He said to my heart…learn to waltz with me as you go through life..

[@montanadeb]

A timely word. Thank you.🕯️

[@drcsng]

So tender and powerful. Thank you for sharing. ❤️‍🩹

[@julietreagus7043]

So good, i grew up not being ableto express emtions they need to be expressed even if we miss it and get it wrong.thankyou Jonathon and Melissa..bless you.

[@billem16]

Thank you for this from my wife & I

[@roxannegaunt7766]

My life was stuff down in disfunction never reveal your emotions So refreshing to finally be real to my emotions emotions in my life I love that gift of honesty and be a listening presence 🕊💟

[@DarlaHeflin]

When I truly experienced joy and sadness was when my dad passed. It was a marked time of my life.

[@laurahausman1370]

This put words to EVERYTHING I am going through. Thank you so much!! ❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏

[@AM-hh2kg]

So timely, thank you for posting

[@EdenAvenue84]

I've been really blessed by hearing these conversations . Thank you so much.

[@cassjoyberry]

Wow, weeping through this one. Thank you guys so much.

[@deborahmillerrobinson3746]

So needed to hear this today, thank you

[@Letaviolin]

So much wisdom ❤

[@TVHouseHistorian]

Good fresh farm-to-table perspective on such a confusing subject.

[@TreasureBijon]

This blessed me soooo much!!

[@mattheesakkers9187]

Wow. I really really needed to hear this. Thank you.

[@LAUNCHLIFE2024]

GREAT WORD ❤ experiencing this as of late! Thank you!

[@enosyodermattieyoder4298]

Wow!! This is so good! Thank you for sharing!🎉

[@RochelleInItalia]

This was beautiful. Ministered to by this

[@reynachavez608]

I needed to hear this

[@tannermoore1447]

Not a 35 year old blue collar father weeping in the work truck. Thank yall.

[@geancarlocaldero5026]

OMG so beautiful ❤

[@laurahausman1370]

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@roxannegaunt7766]

My life was stuff down in disfunction never reveal your emotions So refreshing to finally be real to my emotions emotions in my life I love that gift of honesty and be a listening presence 🕊💟