Hope Meets Grit - by Heidi McLaughlin

Hope is not optimism or a good luck charm. It takes grit to walk through darkness and believe in something better for tomorrow. On a recent Facebook post I declared: “The darkest storms make way for the greatest sunlight.” I believe this with all my heart because God is a good God who promises that our future plans are good and abundant. But how do we survive those endless, dark seasons without any cracks of sunlight?

We need to have grit to grab hope.

Sometimes hope feels like an exploded dandelion seed floating in the air teasing my fingertips as I try to grab it.  Hope is not nebulous.  It is real and tangible but it takes backbone to step into it. I am at the three-month marker after the death of my second husband. It’s been a long, cold and hard winter outside and in my soul.  As I wait for my new season to arrive I need to do what my brother-in-law Bill says, “Give ‘er snoose.” Not entirely sure what it means but I know it entails hard work.

Give ‘er snoose.

With determined grit I step into hope every day. Here is how I do it:

• Whether I feel like it or not, I get out of bed, feet on the floor and start my day. Time with God, a shower and I make intentional appointments with friends to get out of the house each day.
• In spite of how I may feel, I start each day writing in my Gratitude Journal.
• I keep my body strong by eating healthy and walking 5 km every second day.
• I DECLARE that I will live in God’s light and that God has my glorious future. Out loud I speak against defeat, discouragement and despair. I will not allow the enemy to sabotage my thoughts with negativity and hopelessness.
• I stand on God’s promises with hope for my future. I look up verses that proclaim God’s truth for my fulfilling life. “So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” (1 Peter 5:10)
• I remember God’s faithfulness in the past. I suffered through the death of my first husband, watched my father die of ALS and my mother of a pre-cancerous blood condition. God was with me in those grieving journeys and He restored my soul and placed a beautiful “new normal” in my life. Because God did is then…He will do it again.
• After a thundering, black storm the sun emerges and we enjoy a gorgeous rainbow. A visual imagine of an eternal promise.  Life is circular. Babies are born-we die. Winter is here-spring comes. We die-we go to Heaven. The suffering seasons we are in do not last forever.  “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. “(James 1:2)

There are many more but I will end on this note. God is the I Am of all I Am’s. The name of God is YHVH, which means “I Am.” When I say, “I am Heidi McLaughlin” that means that my “I am” only exists because of His. I know that everything in my life flows from Him and He would never intentionally hurt himself, so why would He hurt me? The only time He hurt himself was when He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for my sins and freedom. 

What kind of radical love is that?

That’s the hope I cling to each day. My God who loves me like that will walk me into a new and glorious future. I believe it with all my heart.

Heidi McLaughlin lives in the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia. Heidi has been widowed twice. She is a mom and step mom of a wonderful, eclectic blended family of 5 children and 12 grandchildren. When Heidi is not working, she loves to curl up with a great book, or golf and laugh with her family and special friends.

Her latest book RESTLESS FOR MORE: Fulfillment in Unexpected Places (Including a FREE downloadable Study Guide) is now available at Amazon.ca; Amazon.com, Goodreads.com or her website: www.heartconnection.ca

ON FIRE TO RETIRE-by Heidi McLaughlin

For years people have been asking me, “So when are you going to finally retire?” For years my response has been: “Retire from what to what? I will KNOW when it is time for me to retire.”

I knew God would give me absolute clarity when the time was right, and that time has come. I woke up one morning and in my spirit I clearly heard the words, “It’s time to retire.”  At the moment it is an exciting yet daunting and mysterious time in my transitional life. At the time of this blog, I have 9 working days left. 

I have had a fulfilling and exciting career for the past 35 years. I have managed a large law office and for the past 21 years I have been the controller for two car dealership franchises. For the past 18 years I have juggled my career with a speaking, writing and mentoring ministry, being a pastor’s wife and being a mother and step mom of a large family.  It has been a rich, fulfilling and satisfying era and an exciting and mysterious future awaits. For over 35 years I have had a scheduled routine of getting up at 6:00, doing my devotions, going to work, working all day and then doing my other ministry in the evenings and weekends.  When the glow wears off, what does the new future look like?

I have discovered that when it comes to the subject of retirement there at two camps.

Camp #1 – “Oh dear, you’re finally going to retire. What are you going to do?”

Camp #2 -  “Great news, you are finally retiring. You are going to love it.  You will now have a new freedom and you will wonder how you ever managed to hold down a full time job. I know God has great and mighty projects waiting for you.”

At the moment I am chomping at the bit to finish my 9 working days.  God has richly provided for me all these years and I know without a shadow of a doubt that He will care for me and meet all my future needs. I am on fire to discover:

• What it’s like to write a book during the week, and not until midnight and on weekends in my P.J.’s
• What it feels like to NOT have to get up early each morning.
• To be able to take vacations and long weekends whenever I want. I can’t even imagine.
• To take the time to write articles, submit stories to publishers, and linger during the beautiful summer evenings.
• Not get agitated with interrupted interruptions.
• Embrace divine moments.
• Linger with friends.
• Leisurely plant the flowers on my deck and take the time to beautify my garden.
• Be fully engaged in what God has for me in this next season of life.

Our wonderful God tells us in the book of Ephesians 2:20 that “He has good works for us to do”, and I eagerly await the picture of what those good works look like.

For those of you who have already embraced this season; I would love your words or encouragement and wisdom to help me transition through this most marvellous and mysterious season.

Heidi McLaughlin lives in the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia. She is married to Pastor Jack and they have a wonderful, eclectic blended family of 5 children and 9 grandchildren. When Heidi is not working, she loves to curl up with a great book, or golf and laugh with her husband and special friends. You can reach her at: www.heartconnection.ca