It's interesting to me that one of my favorite authors on the issue of trauma is also my favorite author on the concept of "play" (Dan Allender). Isn't that ironic? Don't those two issues seem to be completely paradoxical? 

But they are intimately connected.

To play well is to HEAL well.

To play well is to BE WELL.

To play well is to PARENT well.

What we know about recovery work is that restoration of our whole selves requires the ability to think rightly, feel deeply, but also PLAY FREELY.  Our healing is accomplished when we can engage our heart, soul, mind and strength into joyfully recovering who we were made to be.

And for many parents who have been wounded in their childhood, they have a difficult time tapping into the world of play with their own kids. Pain can lead us to be feel damaged, drained, and disconnected. But Dan Allender calls us out of our pain and into playing with our kids. For them and for us! He names it as one of the "highest callings" of parenthood. He wisely states:

“Playing with our children gives them the skills, character, and context for living out their God-given calling. This is by far their most important inheritance, which means that it is callous to deprive a child of a parental playmate. A worldview based on a belief in the Resurrection demands a vision of life that begins and ends with a celebration, a feast of pleasure and delight. This is a party, not some somber affair! Play is not an escape from the heartache of reality. Instead it involves embracing the outcome of all reality. If we come to a richer and deeper understanding of play, it can change how we go about a day, how we go about living in the decades that we have left on this earth. So I consider this not to be a frivolous topic, but one that is so very central to the gospel.” -Dan Allender, How Children Raise Parents

How about you? How well are you taking time to truly be present and PLAY with those you love? Be a part of healing your story while you help your children write a brave new one. They need you. Take some time to play well and BE WELL.

                                                                            Let me know if I there is any way I can help.

                                                                                                 Christine♥

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A friend posted this blog on my facebook page and I couldn't resist posting it as well. Not that I'm trying to toot my horn. Or promote my business. But because I agree wholeheartedly with what Jennie Allen says about why seeking counseling is helpful, and sometimes even necessary:

1. We all need translators sometimes to really hear ourselves or the other person.

2. We all need to hear the truth about ourselves in a safe environment.

3. We all need space to sort out how we feel or what we need.

4. We all need help at times applying the truth of God’s Word into real life.    Jennie Allen

I couldn't have said it better myself.

http://www.jennieallen.com/why-i-think-everyone-should-have-a-counselor/

I often hear people admit they are unsure if the actually "need" counseling. Others comment they are messed up beyond repair. Taking the first step of making an appointment with a professional counselor can be the most courageous step you make! Finding the right counselor is a process and it is important to find a counselor you can trust, one who shares your values, and one you believe can walk with you in practical ways to help you move through your difficult issue. I would love the privilege of joining you on your journey of discovering healing, wholeness, and hope.

Here are a few issues and "reasons" why many people seek out the help of a professional counselor.

• Inability to overcome sadness

• Feeling like your worry and anxiety are out of control

• Loss over stage of life transitions

• Fear in opening up wounds from childhood

• A sounding board for making tough life decisions

• Working through abuse, whether it's emotional, physical, sexual or verbal

• Difficulty managing grief and loss

• Marriage struggles

• Inability to draw healthy relational boundaries

• Divorce recovery

• Low self-worth and co-dependency

• Processing premarital issues

• Parenting struggles and challenges

• Adolescent issues

• Spiritual woundings

• The pain of broken relationships

• Body image and eating struggles

• Biblical counsel in dealing with life challenges

Feel free to call me for a chat to see if you think you would be interested in setting up an appointment here in the Huntsville area.