When Pain and Gratitude Walk Together | The Healing Cheff®

🌸✨ This morning, as I was driving home from my morning meeting, I found myself thanking God. 🙏

Writing my memoir has opened doors to memories I tucked away for many years. Some of them are incredibly painful~ my childhood, my trauma, the loss of my mom and daddy. There are moments when I can feel the ache of those memories so deeply.

But something beautiful is happening too.

At the very same time that I feel the pain, I also feel overwhelming gratitude. 🌿

Only God can hold both in the same heart.

Only He can allow tears and joy to occupy the same sacred space. 

He is healing places in me that I thought would always hurt. And with every page I write, I can feel Him gently whispering, "Keep going, daughter... I'm making all things new." ✍️✨

As I was driving, I looked over to my left and saw a truck beside me. The back window was rolled down, and sitting there was a little girl who looked to be about four years old.

She immediately reminded me of my granddaughter, Elowen. 🌸

The first time I glanced over, she wasn't looking at me. A moment later I looked again, and this time our eyes met. I smiled... and she gave me the biggest, brightest smile right back. She was absolutely adorable. 💕

My heart melted.

There is something so special about two souls connecting. Age doesn't matter.

In that brief little moment, I wasn't just looking at a little girl~ I was reminded of the little girl I once was. 🌼

When I was young, I was curious about everything. I was mischievous (my mom used to tell me 😄), I loved to play, dance, be silly, laugh until my stomach hurt, and yes... I absolutely loved sweets. I had 13 cavities at one dentist visit... seriously. 🍭😂 I was a free spirit.

And when I look at Elowen, I see so much of that same little girl.

She has the sweetest chubby cheeks, the most mischievous little smile, and a joyful sparkle in her eyes. She's curious, playful, loving, friendly, funny, and full of life. Watching her reminds me that somewhere beneath everything life has brought, that little girl still lives inside of me too. 🌸

Today's little smile from a stranger reminded me of her.

Not every child smiles back when I smile. Some look confused. Some look away. But every once in a while, one of them lights up the moment, and it's as if our spirits recognize each other. ✨

Those little moments are gifts. 🎁

They remind me that innocence still exists.

They remind me that joy is still alive.

They remind me that God is still speaking through the smallest encounters.

Sometimes the greatest miracles aren't loud at all...

Sometimes they're found in the smile of a child, the innocence of a little soul, and the quiet reminder that despite everything we've lived through... beauty still finds us. 🕊️💗

Today my heart is full.

I'm so grateful for healing.

I'm grateful that God allows me to feel both the pain of where I've been and the joy of where I'm going.

And I'm especially grateful that in just a few days, on the Fourth of July 🇺🇸, I'll get to wrap my arms around all of my precious grand babies.

I truly cannot wait. ❤️

With a grateful heart... always.

~ Michelle Ann 🌸
The Healing Cheff®
Seeing the Beauty in Everything™
🌐 TheHealingCheff.com

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