Reentry is hard

From Thursday through Saturday, I spent time with many amazing women. We prayed. We listened. We talked. We worshiped together. We laughed. We cried. By the end of our time together, we were pumped up for God — ready to do His work. We were excited and ready to get back home to our families — to share what we learned, what we heard, and what we did.

Reentry is hard.

But many of us were dealing with things back home. When we stepped off the planes we had to adjust. We had to hold back. Perhaps the airport is not the right place to dump all of our enthusiasm on our families. Perhaps they were really thankful that we were home and wanted to share their stories instead of hearing ours. Perhaps we did or did not do something that hurt them or made them angry while we were gone.

Reentry is hard.

But they are often hard on themselves when they don’t see all these things happening on a daily basis. They are quick to observe all they are doing wrong and slow to appreciate all they are doing right.

– Power of a Praying Woman, pg. 36 by Stormie Omartian

This is me. To a capital T. I am hard on myself for everything I did wrong. When I look back over the weekend, there are things that I did wrong and things I did right. The ones eating at my soul are the things I did wrong.

Reentry is hard.

This morning I sat down with my journal and poured my heart out to God. I couldn’t even put into words some of what I am feeling, but I know God knows and understands what I need. I also prayed for the other ladies I met this weekend who are going back home to bigger struggles than I can even imagine.

Reentry is hard, but God is bigger than my problems.