I am Not Shunning Emotions Anymore - episode 251
There is tremendous value in understanding our emotions are not good or bad. We need to let them in and not ignore them. They are telling us something and if we don’t pay attention our bodies will be the ones to keep score. This is how many physical symptoms and illnesses are born. Lina La Rue Gomez had many other wise and discerning things to say as our guest this week for Let’s Talk About Mental Health. She has learned the biggest challenges she has faced have brought the biggest blessings to her life.
You can find Lina’s podcast at The Streets of Our Lives and on LinkedIn at Lina La Rue Gomez.
Idealistic. Quirky. Sensitive.
— Lina La Rue Gomez
Welcome home, Emily
Thoughts from I am Not Shunning Emotions Anymore
You know when you instantly click with someone, how good it feels, how happy you are, and they clearly feel the same way. Such was my introduction to Lina. We connected behind the scenes on some podcast business and the next thing you know we are hitting it off, having these meaningful exchanges via email far beyond the business at hand. I knew she would make a great guest (truly, everyone could if they wanted to) because she has a strong sense of herself.
In this episode Lina talked a lot about emotions and how we need to let them be what they are: fleeting, descriptive, and telling, not right or wrong, good or bad. I have been going through my own strong feelings the last couple of days and want to share here. A good friend of twenty-five years was killed in a hit-and-run Sunday evening, January 19. Emily was walking across the street to meet her daughter for dinner and an SUV hit her and drove off. Her injuries were quickly attended to by first-responders but they proved fatal and she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
This all came to light the next morning. Emily and I, along with Marcella, Renee, Christine and Deborah have all been part of the same prayer group all these years. It’s been the opportunity to share what’s on our hearts, to vulnerably ask for prayer for our loved ones, and it has knit us together. Our strong faith bonds us and it has brought us not only closer to each other, but also it grew us each closer to God. And when you pray for someone you become invested in their story, in their life and you want what is best for them. So we have great love and care for Emily’s children even though we don’t know them well. The same is true of all of our children, loved ones, jobs, health, creative ventures, and anything else we have brought to the group in prayer.
As I wrestle with these feelings of great, unexpected loss I brought them to my daily morning time the last couple of days. This kind of writing helps me process and it gives me hope. I’ll let you decide how divine the answers are or if they are simply what I want to hear. That truth is far above my pay grade and what I do know is that I feel seen and understood when I’m done. My hope has been deepened and I feel grateful.
January 20, 2025 Dear Lord,
Our hearts are broken to hear the news that Emily was killed in a hit and run. Tragic. This will be especially hard on her children, and her sisters. If there are things for us to do, make them known. Thank you for the gift of last weekend together. (Last weekend we had a prayer-group retreat, so lots of time together that was glorious! In a word-activity we cumulatively described each other. For Emily: faith-filed, peacemaker, resilient, strong, gentle, humble, quiet strength.) Yes, she was all these and more, so much more. Love, Rechelle
Dear Rechelle,
She’s with me, pain and worry-free. Her children will be tasked with navigating this challenging life without her. They will live with her in their hearts, and they will be blessed with people to support them. They may not be aware but I will continue to pour out my grace, for I love them even more than she does. Hard for a mother to comprehend. Love, God
January 21, 2025 Dear Lord,
Yesterday was shock. Today is sadness. So sudden. So violent. So sad. We are at a loss. Yet we are reminded to rejoice always (Emily is with you - she loves you and her faith was evident to all), to pray continually (for her children Lord, peace and comfort), and to give thanks in all circumstances (we did life with her for 25+ years - what a joy, what a treasure, thank you Lord). The sadness we feel is in equal measure to the love we have for her. Until we meet again, Emily. Love, Rechelle
Dear Rechelle,
Remember my ways are not your ways. Your world is broken and is not under my complete rule. There are other forces at play that are not of me. People get to choose the path they will follow: one has me in it, and one does not. Emily chose the better path and it led to me: rest in my eternal arms. There is joy and completeness here. Love, God
The very last thing Emily ever said to me personally (these moments can really stand out) was after I shared how difficult raising our last child was, and how emotionally fragile I became throughout that time, that I was just now starting to really heal. Emily told me God had prepared me for this time and that he was saying, Well done, good and faithful servant. She felt that was surely how God saw me. In that moment I felt a sense of peace with her wise words along with the sense of truth they conveyed.
Now Emily, I imagine you heard those words yourself whether it was then as you were whisked away from the body that would no longer serve you, or shortly after your arrival when the love you gave throughout your time here was evident, and the Lord you loved so much said with conviction and truth, Well done, you are a good and faithful servant. Welcome home, Emily.
In the broken world, look for the moments of God.
They rise to the top in love, connection and ongoing hope.
Emily, bottom left for her birthday celebration
