Have you ever gotten a line or two of a song in your head and just couldn’t stop thinking about it? That happens to me occasionally…for instance recently, I kept thinking about this line…‘I hope Life treats you kind..’ from Dolly Parton’s famous song, ‘I Will Always Love You’. Dolly wrote the song when she left the Porter Waggoner Show. Later, Whitney Houston elevated this same song to unbelievable heights and popularity. Country and Pop music fans loved that song! It’s a song about leaving, heartbreak, loss, bittersweet memories and to some extent betrayal. A sad song really.
Often, when a line from a song or a portion of Scripture stops me in my tracks… I want to sit with it a while…contemplate it. With Dolly’s Song… I let the words run around in my head, moving on to that line about ‘Bittersweet memories…’ Ultimately, in the privacy of my own home- I broke out singin’ it- loud….no, I did not sound like Dolly or Whitney- more like a bad version of Willie Nelson, in case you’re wondering. Then, there was a Scripture, I was reading a devotional recently and a portion of a verse just hopped off the page and stopped me in my tracks-I wanted to sit with it awhile- here it is:
‘…the same night in which He was betrayed, He took bread; and when He gave thanks….’ First Corinthians 13:23-24.
Jesus was betrayed…He shared a meal, He gave thanks. Think about it. Betrayal and Gratitude are puzzle pieces that rarely seem to fit. I wondered, what if it said-
- ‘And after she lost her job…she gave thanks’ or
- ‘And after he was put on hospice, he gave thanks…’ or
- ‘After she was abandoned, she gave thanks…’
- ‘After his father had beaten him, he gave thanks…’
Think of any emotional damage that causes human suffering. Sit with loss, betrayal, abandonment, physical illness, abuse and heartache for a while. Think of them as Gunshots to the Soul. Now, insert those grave wounds into that same Scripture… Does hosting a meal and giving thanks follow heartache? It hardly seems possible. And yet…there is a deep truth in there. Suffering isn’t convenient- a gap opens up, right in the midst of Living. The Betrayal occurred right in the middle of the Last Supper that Jesus would have with his closest friends; He continued living, He turned to what remained of His life; gave thanks and resumed the meal. I must be honest here, I am not a big fan of telling folks to count their blessings when they are in the midst of suffering– it seems to add an unnecessary burden onto an already wounded spirit. However, for myself…I have found when I am able to allow light to come into my suffering- turn to what remains- the good that life still offers- it takes the form of gratitude and the healing begins…
Life is hard; it never permanently gets easier. Bad things still happen to good people. Promises are broken and some dreams die. You cannot go back and make Life different. If you look at the photograph, you will see Crepe Myrtles blooming at the back of our yard. There is a gap between the trees- where a clump of beloved dogwoods used to be- they died this year and were cut down. I mourned the loss- this area is a Memory Garden. The loss of the dogwoods seemed to be a metaphor for what has already been a year of difficulties-among them, the loss of two sweet friends and my mother. As if to drive the heartache/ gratitude connection home, the crepe myrtles are blooming their heads off! Meanwhile I’ve been staring at the Gap- the Loss. These trees have never bloomed so profusely before this year, maybe the dogwoods were blocking our view! 
I took photographs of the heavy blooms hanging down close enough to be at eye level- midst the most incredible blue sky with puffy white clouds- the fragrance was faint and lovely. I had stared so long and so hard at what I had lost, feeling the dogwoods had betrayed the Memory Garden… having bittersweet memories… I realized I was missing the near and present loveliness! ‘Life was treating me kind…’ Thank you, Dolly. The day after the photographs were taken, to further emphasize the point of the Scripture from First Corinthians which I had been contemplating for days…one of the big crepe myrtle branches heavy with blooms broke. ‘And the same night He was betrayed, He took bread, and after He had given thanks, He broke the bread…’ Wouldn’t you know? In the sun-filled blue skied day, the truth of Jesus’ actions broke through my mind…instead of dwelling on one more bad thing-I decided to cut the blooms from the broken branch and make something of it! I’m so thankful I did! 
Just look at the planter shaped like a woman’s head! She’s surely grateful for the glorious flower-dy hat she’s wearing! Turns out the broken branch isn’t a mortal wound… Life does go on, bright blue skies mingle among the cloudy days- enjoy what you can and when you think of it? Give thanks to God… He will always love you! Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
Love y’all, Camellia
p.s. Be honest now, you’re humming Dolly Parton’s tune aren’t you?
Camellia's Cottage 
I love that song. Really I cannot refer to your beautiful garden as a yard. What a wonderfully inviting place you have created. I love this post. Thank you.
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Thank you Barbara! You made my day! Xoxo
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Thoughtfully and beautifully written. Thank you.
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Oh thank you! What a kind thing to say!
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This post relates to a portion of our life at this time. Even though there has been loss, focusing on all of the positive things happening is what we should set our mind on. Life is hard but it is worth the fight. Removing the sections of life which are draining and dead, the Lord will bring forth new life.
Thank you for this post. The Lord will make all things new, when your mind is stayed upon Him.
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Amen Tina! So true, and I think this year you are e living proof of it! Love you so!
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Again my beloved sis you have brought tears of gratitude.. missing mom & her nearing birthday.. thank you for being you !! Love you dearly 💕😘😇🙏🏻
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oh so sweet! thank you and love you greatly! xoxo
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Your words of loss are such a comfort. I give thanks for a friend whose faith, in the midst of sorrow, is a beacon of light for other people, like me. Blessings, Camellia! 🌸🌟✨💫🌸
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You are incredibly kind! So thankful for your remarks and for you, my precious friend! I am strengthened by your words- l am also thankful for a place to express my thoughts…writing, as you know, is a blessing! love you!
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As hard as life sometimes is it is still full of much for which to be grateful.
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You are so right! Even in the midst of a difficult time- there has also been an abundance of good! Xoxo
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Yep, humming away!! lol
I love this post, Brenda!! thanks so much for the reminder that we always have something to thank God for, even in the midst of heartbreak!
The flower-dy hat is gorgeous!!
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oh you are so kind! thank you! always something to thank God for and a sense of humor helps too, don’t you think?
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Yes, definitely!!
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Great post…thank you 🙂
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Thank you, Ben!
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I am catching up…this is beautiful and a needed reminder right now…Steve’s mom, who has been at the periphery of our lives, Steve did not live with her while growing up…has not been doing well. We moved her to Cook Springs Assisted Living, not her wishes, but after a hospital visit to get her meds adjusted again, is showing us gratitude for what we are doing. I need to remember that and return the favor as we are cleaning out all sorts of s*** from her house—she was a peddler for a while and bought and sold—she bought much more than she sold! So I need to keep reminding myself that there are blessings to be grateful for everyday. Blessing to you sweet and wise lady! Sally Sally Smith CampCreekCreations.com Follow us on Facebook
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Thank you Sally, what a difficult time for you and Steve! All I know for sure is that occasionally we are able to see the blessings among the difficulties- bless you both and love you greatly!
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I was just thinking these same thoughts to myself today. Whenever I find myself feeling defeated, wounded or unhappy, gratitude is always what brings me back from there. There’s always something to be grateful for! Lovely post, and beautifully written, thank you.
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Thank you Angie! So kind…truly- glad you stopped by!
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Beautiful flowers
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thank you!
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Nice post. It reminds me of the last conversation with my mom before she passed away. Mom was hospitalized for 2 months and she suffered a lot. My mom never complained and she always praised the Lord. I remember talking to her and telling her how much she has taught us about life, gratitude, compassion, love, forgiveness and more. Just like Jesus, she received all her suffering and somehow through that suffering she “saved” all of her eight children and many more.
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What a beautiful tribute to your precious mother! Thank you sharing her story…we need more like her! Blessings to you…
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