Skip to main content

Looking back

I know the circumstances are different but sometimes I wonder if sometimes I have a problem looking back.

Genesis 19 26 But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.


I haven't turned into a pillar of salt- but have become a puddle of salty tears. I don't always try to look back... but each time I get turned around I can tell the difference. There are times people pull me back and times something triggers me to look back but the results are often the same.

I wonder why Lot's wife looked back. Was she thinking back about the life she once knew? Was she thinking of the friends she once had? Did she hear something that just distracted her from her forward path? Was it just a glace or was it a longing for what once was?

In healing I have looked back and beat myself up over the what if's and felt anger at doctors and others... but it hasn't brought Levi back. It only brings salt to my eyes.

I have looked back at the life I once had... and the plans I had made. But I will never be that person again- no matter how much I may glance at my old self.

I am grateful for the lessons Levi has taught me- I do want to clarify- I do view it differently remembering Levi's life and impact versus looking back at the details of his death. What I am hoping is that now that I have shared Levi's story I can look forward to the things I can change and only the memories that bring smiles- not bitterness.

Comments

JD said…
I too, have a difficult time not looking back into my past. There are days when I struggle to look to the future, because my daughter seems to be "stuck" back in my past. Even looking at my childhood, it affects so much of who I am today, that I can't help but reflect back on that, and learn from it, and grow from it... Our past is a large part of who we are today, it would be impossible to ignore it.

Someone wise once said to me that life and time is like driving a car. The road ahead is the future, the driver is in the present, and everything behind the car is the past. From time to time, he/she must look in the rearview mirror (the past) in order to check to see the road that's led them there and to make sure nothing is sneaking up on them. Focus too long on the past, and you'll go off the road, but an occasional glance IS healthy, and recommended.
Holly said…
It's hard not to look back and I liked how you talked about Lot's wife.
Stacey said…
Rebekah, I am always so touched by what you write. I've been sitting here reading your memories of Levi's birth and I'm amazed by your strength and your will to remember him and yet carry on.

Thanks for this post. It comes at an appropriate time for me as well. I'm trying really hard to focus my attention on today and not let the past creep in.

Thanks for all of your sweet encouragement! Praying for you and your pregnancy.

Popular posts from this blog

Thankfulness

It's been 6 years since hearing the silence we expected to be a heartbeat. As I think back today, I am filled with thankfulness. I'm thankful for... ... a God who has brought comfort when I mourned. ... His peace that surpasses all understanding. ... the joy that comes in the mourning. ... a faith that weathered the storms. ... a husband that provided and held it together when I couldn't. ... a husband who finds joy in being a daddy to our two blessings. ... our family and friends that mourned with us. ... our family and friends who now rejoice with us. ... the restoration of relationships. ... the two blessings that now call me mama. ... the ability to realize the important things in life aren't things. ... the joy a simple snuggle brings knowing that we aren't guaranteed anything in this life. ... being able to share Levi's story with others. ... healing. I am so grateful that God prepared us in so many ways before Levi's death and he's brought ...

Two worlds

I feel like I’ve got my feet in two worlds and I don’t always know how to handle it or balance it. I don’t always feel like I fit in with the mom group… I’m not a stay at home mom and yet I’m not working full time either. I don’t have the innocence that many of them have and can’t always relate to everything. Yet I feel like I don’t always feel like I fit in the loss community either. It’s not that I’ve forgotten or moved on now that I have a child but joy has come in the morning. I’ve recently met two women who lost their sons almost exactly three years after Levi died… it’s just so strange because at the same time I’m involved with forming a small group of moms through our church. Two worlds and I’m in both… but not really. Where do I fit? What is my role? I feel like I’m not the right person in either case. I don’t know how apparent it is to other people- especially those that know me from the coffee shop- but I’m timid with new people. Inviting people to join in has been a big step...

inevitable

I knew this day was inevitable... but still... to come just before Christmas was heart wrenching. In case I haven't mentioned it, Tommy is working at a funeral home now... the same funeral home we used for Levi. There have been times that dropping in to take him lunch is very much a reminder of Levi's death. Just last week for example I needed a place to nurse Madalyn and one of the funeral directors offered the blue room (called that because of the wall color but fitting for other obvious reasons too). Thank you but no- that would be the room we viewed Levi in- I'm not interested in staring at the last place I saw his face while Madalyn eats. There have been difficult funerals too; most of the people have died after long fulfilling lives but a few young people died unexpectedly. Yesterday though they got the first baby since Tommy started working there. Tommy had taken Madalyn out while I worked on his Christmas present and stopped by work to see about an unfinished p...

Levi Aaron

Levi Aaron