tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post8042193518187667608..comments2021-08-26T13:24:55.296-07:00Comments on Ellen Jacobs: It's Hard When Friends LeaveEllen Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07711948189620898145noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-5000042305289525732021-08-26T13:24:55.296-07:002021-08-26T13:24:55.296-07:00Thank you for writing this! It is needed. I'm ...Thank you for writing this! It is needed. I'm also a preacher's wife & I love/support all of our members. However, it's harder to find a friend in the congregation that I can just be myself with. We are at a small congregation & we were good friends with a family; our kids are the same age & are the best of friends. But, they left out of the blue for a larger congregation further down the road. It hurt most that they talked to members of the other church about it & no one where they were going. No time to fix any problems or discuss it. Our kids are still in a few programs together; it's been hard to forgive & I feel that pain every time I see them. I pray that I can continue with our friendship; that hurt feels impossible to get through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-79746699918556973092021-02-22T04:00:02.890-08:002021-02-22T04:00:02.890-08:00Saabrina. I love uSaabrina. I love uAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03321508073493996507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-33788720021657106622020-04-13T14:24:55.302-07:002020-04-13T14:24:55.302-07:00So very tired of going through this. The pain isn&...So very tired of going through this. The pain isn't only my own, but that of my 3 children as well. Deeply hurting....again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-28738163341247559432020-02-28T08:43:58.386-08:002020-02-28T08:43:58.386-08:00Such a timely blog. You don’t see much on this sub...Such a timely blog. You don’t see much on this subject and it is so needed. I just went through a year of emotional pain worse than death bc of many leaving to follow a talented minister who left our church. And these were people we’ve spent 30 years investing in and equipping. But Jesus is the Healer. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08974564699569909917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-409587572827846262020-02-28T08:41:48.341-08:002020-02-28T08:41:48.341-08:00Such a timely blog. You don’t see much on this sub...Such a timely blog. You don’t see much on this subject and it is so needed. I just went through a year of the emotional pain worse than death bc of many leaning to follow a talented minister who left our church. And these were peopld we’ve spent 30 years investing in and equipping. But Jesus is the Healer. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08974564699569909917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-54301526679610910112019-01-16T12:04:39.703-08:002019-01-16T12:04:39.703-08:001 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were...1 John 2:19 <br /><br />They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.<br /><br />Honestly, people dont commit like in the past. It's easier to walk away; from marriages, jobs, relationships, friendships, a project. We have become a disposable society. We are quick to discard, even a person.<br />Jesus intimately Pastored 12. Although he preached to thousands. Pastoring is taking that journey with the flock. It is being transparent, being Gods love.<br />It's hard....I must admit. Yet, its our calling and with it comes the pain of lost. Leave the door open some will return. It is then you extend your arms and say WELCOME HOME.Pastor Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00943184905286177595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-40809835039900331102018-08-25T13:32:09.674-07:002018-08-25T13:32:09.674-07:00Here I am sitting here just hearing another family...Here I am sitting here just hearing another family has left and the friend to that family may leave also. That is the fourth family this year, you get tired of it and sometimes just want quit ministry. This helped me some thoughAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13877350402337692087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-51503824229594890602016-10-29T15:52:44.316-07:002016-10-29T15:52:44.316-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02574005671191209227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-85640459631168685222016-03-10T07:21:48.849-08:002016-03-10T07:21:48.849-08:00just curious...are you saying the friendship would...just curious...are you saying the friendship would have to end because the person no longer attends your church? If, yes, why is that?carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12973847429282714616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-68995314095032982932016-03-10T07:03:42.033-08:002016-03-10T07:03:42.033-08:00just curious...are you saying the friendship would...just curious...are you saying the friendship would have to end because the person no longer attends your church? If, yes, why is that?carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12973847429282714616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-56112288762554482382012-11-12T14:38:58.830-08:002012-11-12T14:38:58.830-08:00Thanks for your words of encouragement and wisdom....Thanks for your words of encouragement and wisdom. This is a post I've had to read over and over again.....and needed to read again today. It's easy to start the "Don't you remember when we rushed to your side at the ER at 1 AM? Don't you remember how we supported you during......" when they tell you God is telling them to leave. Thanks for reminding me to focus on the good times we shared, the times they were there for us and the reality that everyone will leave at some point. Someone new will come along and add their own brand of spice to the mix. <br />Thanks again.<br />Co-pastoring in AlabamaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-16613655565576798392012-09-03T13:47:05.447-07:002012-09-03T13:47:05.447-07:00Just had a good friend decide that she didn't ...Just had a good friend decide that she didn't want to go to our church anymore... It hurts!Rachellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07220351631093641291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-13275622887940649182011-07-30T09:04:00.510-07:002011-07-30T09:04:00.510-07:00Words of wisdom, Ellen!! 10 years into it and that...Words of wisdom, Ellen!! 10 years into it and that experience can still sneak up on me! One thing that has been recently helping is honestly voicing my negative emotions to God in prayer to reconnect with His grace and intimacy. Afterwards I intentionally pray for my friends, asking for God's purposes and grace to be realized in their lives as well. I am doing this everytime I experience a pang of pain, bitterness or remorse. It is helping to keep the negativity from overpowering me.<br />MargieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584197632777209668.post-858592093672156042011-07-30T06:40:52.751-07:002011-07-30T06:40:52.751-07:00Thanks Ellen. I really needed that right now. I th...Thanks Ellen. I really needed that right now. I think I need to print this off and read it often. Maybe in the midst of a time of many leaving, it would be good to reread before and after church some weeks and before those difficult meetings when you just know what's coming, and after those difficult emails when you didn't see it coming. I hope I am learning to continue to love people deeply and hold them lightly, but it still hurts every single time it happens. I think that is the part of loving deeply and the part about not defining people by the hurt they have caused you is the holding lightly part. Hopefully it all brings one (me) to maturity when it is all said and done. <br /><br />Thanks for the good, wise, clear word. <br /><br />Your friend<br />Sabrina Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com