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Truly Yours, Jen

loss

The World Will Never Quite Be the Same

Tragedy and Grief

To My Friend Who Would Rather Not Do Christmas This Holiday Season

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Hi there! I’m Jen, and I am so glad you are here. I write about faith, family, parenting, friendship, forgiveness, and my own struggles and joys in life (with a few recipes and decorating tips thrown in for fun). I hope my writing is like reading a letter from a friend, and that it brings you encouragement. Life is messy. We are all a little messy. Thankfully, God loves us through it all. Thank you for being here!
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Truly Yours, Jen – Jennifer Thompson, Writer

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I went to the mailbox and opened the door. There I

I went to the mailbox and opened the door. There I found a package, marked Fragile, with my name addressed on the outside.

I brought it inside and was careful while I cut away the tape and opened the box.

When I saw what was inside, my heart skipped a beat and tears pooled in my eyes.

My mug.
This looks just like my favorite mug.
The one that shattered into pieces on my kitchen floor.
The one that reminded me that God takes what is broken and makes it new again.

I hugged it to my chest as my heart filled with joy.

A sweet reader sent it to me.
And in my inbox was a message from another reader who also wanted to do the same.

I am grateful for this space and for each and every one of you who has come to this page.

And I am so grateful for how you encourage me.
Each and every day.

As I held this mug in both of my hands, with tears in my eyes, I was reminded once again of the goodness of God.

Of how He cares for us in ways we cannot comprehend or fathom.
Of how He takes what is broken and makes it new. Time and time and time and time again.

I used to love this mug, but now I love it even more.
It is a tangible reminder to me of what it looks like to love others well.

And that acts of kindness go a long way.

It is a reminder that God cares not only about the big things, but the small things as well.

He cares about all things.

It is a reminder that what is broken can be made whole again.

It may not be the exact same as it was before, but often times, it is even better than we ever could have imagined.

#grateful #actsofkindness #madenew #happyheart

💗 (via @laurenfortenberrywrites )

💗

(via @laurenfortenberrywrites )

When Captain America delivers your cake, it may be

When Captain America delivers your cake, it may be the best day ever. 💗

#happybirthday #joy #laughter #captainamerica #bestdayever

We were going through school papers and my daughte

We were going through school papers and my daughter came across something she wrote in first grade.

She had more wisdom at 7 than I may have in my 40s. 💗💗

#oldsoul #learningfrommychildren #wisdom #lifelessons #rulestoliveby #wisebeyondheryears

It’s amazing how God uses things. Like overflowi

It’s amazing how God uses things. Like overflowing cupboards and shattered mugs.

Today, I reached into our cupboard to grab a cup to fill with coffee, and as I did, my hand hit my favorite mug and it tumbled to the ground, shattering into pieces on the floor around me.

My favorite mug. The one with the beautiful, brightly-colored flowers and the ‘J’. The one that fit so nicely into the palm of my hand.

It wasn’t a huge surprise. I kind of knew at some point I was going to lose a mug, or two.

I have a weakness for mugs and even though I know I have too many and I should probably get rid of some, or at least move them to some place else in the kitchen, I don’t. So they sit, precariously stacked, one on top of the other, waiting for a hand to cause one to tumble.

And as I looked at the mug shattered on the floor and the stack of mugs in the cupboard, I began to think of the things I am holding on to that I need to let go of. The things I try to lay down and then pick back up again. The clutter in my heart that keeps me from focusing on the things I want to focus on. And that sometimes when you hold onto things you need to get rid of, things that may not even matter to you, you end up destroying some of the very best things.

And I realized that sometimes letting go looks a little like my shattered mug.

It’s messy and painful.

But God can use it. He can use those things we struggle so hard to let go of.

Healing sometimes looks like shattering and rebuiliding.

I love how God uses imperfect people. The Bible is filled with stories of people the world may call broken. Liars. Adulterers. Prostitutes. Murderers. Thieves.

People whose lives looked messy.
God called them and He used them.

I can’t fix my mug, but seeing it shattered on the floor today did remind me that it’s time for me to not only look at the clutter in my cupboards, but also in my heart.

It’s time for me to let go of some things.

It's time for me to lay some things down.

And to trust God will take what is broken. And make it new.

#makeitnew #messy #imperfection #shattered #letgo #rebuild #faith

Summer vibes☀️ #summerbreak #goodtimes #lovin

Summer vibes☀️

#summerbreak #goodtimes #lovinglife #familytime

Even the hard parts 💗 #healing #valleys #growt

Even the hard parts 💗

#healing #valleys #growth #strength #faith

He loves me well. He accepts me for who I am, an

He loves me well.

He accepts me for who I am, and doesn’t try to make me something, or someone, I am not.

He loves me well.

He rubs my feet and my back every night, even though his fingers probably hurt and he may be sick of giving me back rubs. We joke that I’m like the cats, pushing my back into his hands. But every night he rubs my back. Without fail.

He loves me well.

He is not clean by nature. His mom has told me stories of countless bowls of cereal and curdled milk lined up under his bed. Of clothes almost making their way to hampers, but not quite. I saw it when we first got together and I would visit his room. He is not clean by nature, but since we have been married, he regularly picks up. I don’t ask him to. He just does. His side of the closet reveals his true nature when it comes to cleanliness, but that isn’t how he treats our home. And I know every day this is part of his sacrificial love.

He loves me well.

He puts up with my moods and doesn’t complain. And when I say I am sorry for being grumpy, he usually replies with, “That’s okay. We are all grumpy sometimes.” And gives me a hug.

He loves me well.

He sees when I need a break and encourages it. He gives me time for myself and puts the kids to bed at night. He doesn’t make me feel bad for needing time, but sees the value it brings for all of us.

He loves me well.

He is present. He is kind. He is faithful. He is honest. He is funny. He is an incredible father. He is my very best friend. He loves God and his family with all that he has.

He loves me well.
And I thank God the kids see his daily examples of love and sacrifice and kindness.
And I thank God we get to walk through life together.

He loves me well.
And I thank God for making him mine.

#truelove #sograteful #marriage

It goes by the name of love 💗 (Beautiful word

It goes by the name of love 💗

(Beautiful words from @jennyalbersauthor )

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