tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post2708238296605480169..comments2024-03-28T10:04:14.956-04:00Comments on Closed Doors, Open Windows: Random Journal Day-Teach Me Lord, To Wait! UPDATED FROM 5/2/2013Pamela M. Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-53564884071128136652014-05-10T20:59:26.232-04:002014-05-10T20:59:26.232-04:00"What a friend we have in Jesus...all our sin..."What a friend we have in Jesus...all our sins and griefs to bear...what a privilege to carry...everything to God in prayer..." What a privilege we have to be able to approach the King of Kings with our concerns and know that we will always have an audience with Him. "In His arms He'll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there..."Pamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-16817110891388963012014-05-10T20:01:13.248-04:002014-05-10T20:01:13.248-04:00What a precious post, Pam. You know how I love yo...What a precious post, Pam. You know how I love your random journal entries...this was no exception! I always stand amazed at how the Lord prepares us for the things that are coming up. And I love what you said about God being your best friend. I realize that He should be, but it isn't often these days that it is expressed in such a sweet manner.<br /><br />Love you!<br />DiannaDiannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15916346102440260126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-15731940356585013852013-05-07T10:45:12.128-04:002013-05-07T10:45:12.128-04:00Depression is one of those things that creeps up o...Depression is one of those things that creeps up on us sometimes when we are not aware and don't believe it could happening to us. I rarely am ever what I would call "depressed" either, but have certainly gone through many difficult, heart breaking situations that left me stunned and perhaps in shock. For those who deal with depression on a regular basis, and find it difficult to ever pull out of it, they definitely need extra help...and the love and understanding of friends, family, and even church people. Christians DO suffer with depression from time to time, and it should not be considered a lack of faith or spiritual maturity to experience it. There is not enough understanding "out there" for those who are truly depressed. Thank you for your prayers for our son and his family. I will also pray for your son as well. It is so difficult for us as parents to see our children suffering, not matter what the reason.<br />Pamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-76011015448184912642013-05-05T13:30:15.439-04:002013-05-05T13:30:15.439-04:00Wow, the transparency of this post. Thanks for tha...Wow, the transparency of this post. Thanks for that. Though I haven't dealt with my own depression, I live with a son who battles mental illness, and have seen deep, clinical depression up close and personal and it's a hard, hard thing. And to see your child suffer is even harder. Maybe the worst fire a parent lives in on this earth. And...you're still in it. I can see how you've grown in that fire, though. How you've seen the Lord walking around in it with you. Being on the front lines of ministry as you began this journey meant you were in a fishbowl for it all. So much to face at once. Looking back, you can see His faithfulness, and sometimes that's the only way we know He'll be faithful in the presence. Thank God He's been with you. I continue to pray for your son and his family.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03468122155512428886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-4445158049844881912013-05-03T18:53:23.427-04:002013-05-03T18:53:23.427-04:00You and I share a common thread that others may no...You and I share a common thread that others may not be able to comprehend. I know what it feels like to be a pastor's wife, and I know what if feels like when the "ministry" is over and we are left to figure out where we belong and what our new mission is supposed to be. I never realized how much my identity was tied up in being "The Pastor's Wife" until we lost our place...and I've been trying to find myself ever since. I know you have been doing much the same thing...and here we are...this must be our new ministry...even to minister to one another! Thank God for how He draws us together even across continents! (((HUGS)))) to you my dear sister in the Lord. Someday we will hug for real and weep tears of joy together.Pamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-89897029928669377152013-05-03T17:58:56.856-04:002013-05-03T17:58:56.856-04:00This is a beautiful post Pamela. I cannot imagine ...This is a beautiful post Pamela. I cannot imagine what a horror it would be to receive such an awful diagnosis for a child of your own! Isn't it odd that you were already experiencing signs of depression even before such bad news arrived? And then it ignited your anger and made you battle-ready to fight for your child. <br />I think that I have been walking through some serious depression this last year, as I'm sure you were able to detect. Your words of encouragement and strength have made a huge difference for me Pam. Thank you for your lovely friendship, I know it is a God-thing. Susie - Walking Butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11372339217547326555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-67669204784540415792013-05-03T15:08:44.498-04:002013-05-03T15:08:44.498-04:00Thank you for your kind thoughts. Depression is so...Thank you for your kind thoughts. Depression is something that can hit us at different times of life, sometimes even when things appear on the surface to be going just fine. That is probably when we need to seek help for our depression the most. Unfortunately, too many of us deny that we could be depressed and try to fight our own battles alone. They say recognizing the symptoms and being able to admit that we are suffering depression is the first step to healing. But that is when we need true friends the most.<br />Thanks for stopping by. Pamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-70324810878403703062013-05-03T10:16:35.804-04:002013-05-03T10:16:35.804-04:00Pam: This is a truly heartfelt journal entry. I un...Pam: This is a truly heartfelt journal entry. I understand the dilemma of being a pastor's wife. I have seen different pastor's wives as they have dealt with personal issues. <br /> I have dealt with depression several times in my life. When I went off to college(My mother thought I was homesick.), a little bit of 'baby blues', when events seemed to crowd in around me, when my dad died. <br /> quietspirithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086016141181470311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-22370556913172086942013-05-03T08:44:54.083-04:002013-05-03T08:44:54.083-04:00Being a pastor's wife is one of the most diffi...Being a pastor's wife is one of the most difficult "callings" a woman can choose. Or perhaps, she didn't choose it herself...her husband chose it for her...in our case, the Lord called my husband to the ministry after we had been married a few years...and I believed then and still do today that God called me at the same time. I loved being a Pastor's wife, most of the time...but it was often a serious struggle for me. Especially when it came to making "friends". I often felt I could not trust any of the women of the church to be my friend. However, I must say that God provided for me at least one good friend everywhere we went...sometimes from the church, sometimes not. Many of those true friends are still my friends today, even though we may live many miles apart. Even one special lady from that particular church. We still communicate frequently, either via email or phone call...or even written letters/cards. She is still way up north,(but in a different state than before) and I am way down south, but the "twain" does meet once in a while!Pamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-3540844846302704132013-05-02T22:10:16.081-04:002013-05-02T22:10:16.081-04:00What a precious share. THank you for picking up an...What a precious share. THank you for picking up and joining in so quick. I feel like your words here from this time remind me how often people are struggling with these same symptoms, even if for only a season.I have battled depression on and off for years, but the Lord truly has healed and sustained me - The Mother's Day card is beautiful. Not so easy being a Pastor's Wife either, ay?enthusiastically, dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13491170202082863992noreply@blogger.com