It was just a small bag of cashews, but it helped me get through a very difficult time in my life.

Four and a half years ago, the foundations of the life I knew were shattered.

In one weekend, my entire world shifted. Through heartbreaking circumstances, I became a single mom and faced a very uncertain future. I was grief-stricken and overwhelmed. I had a few short months to finish up my job as a kindergarten teacher, sort through the contents of our entire house, pack a shipping container, and move myself and my three boys from Australia to America.

On the outside I was calm, but inwardly I was in constant distress. I found it very difficult to eat, and my weight dropped rapidly. One of my very dear friends noticed and took action.

She brought me a small bag of salted cashews—one of my favorite foods. She hoped it would coax me back into eating.

The next few days, I carried that little bag to school with me, grabbing a few cashews every once in awhile as I worked. Slowly my appetite returned, and I again had the physical strength I needed to face the strenuous months ahead of me.

Her plan worked: take little steps toward wholeness until you are strong again. 

My friend, have you been devastated by grief in your life?

Are you wondering how you will ever be whole again?

Are you too scared, too exhausted, too overwhelmed to pursue healing in your heart?

If any of these describe you, I want to encourage you to take one small step today. Just one. 

Chances are, you already know what you need to do.

You know comfort awaits you in God’s Word. You know you need to reach out for help and talk to someone. You know you need to put the past behind you.

Just take a small step forward. 

Pick up your Bible and find a verse of comfort. Write it down and carry it with you today.

Invite your friend to coffee and tell her you need to talk. Reach out.

Start cleaning out the closet of your past (literally or figuratively) and throw away one item that is hindering your healing.

Here’s the thing about healing:

It can be overwhelming to look at the whole road ahead of you. 

So just take a small step forward.  

Eventually those small steps will melt into miles, and you will surprised at how far you have journeyed on the road to healing.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24)

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14)

For ordering information on my devotional book, Tales from Toddlers, click HERE. 

To grab a free download of the first chapter, click HERE.