The Gentle Art Of Letting Go … Hello weekend readers. These last two weeks have been a see-saw in my mind and I suspect many of you as well. The shootings, the devastation of our democracy, the hatred for those who are not white, the idea that hurts our earth means nothing, and worse of all–what is happening with health issues. And those are only a few that grab my mind and heart to the core of what I am musing on. What on earth are people thinking? What is our government doing by putting people in charge that have never been trained for those jobs? What a mess!

So, I don’t want to rattle on with what is wrong, but I needed the wisdom of God to help me sort it out and smile again. I asked for wisdom and it came in something I would never have thought of—Pooh Bear and Owl! I suspect the Holy Spirit chose this for me as she often does without even asking—so enjoy the conversation and the deep wisdom that comes from it.

Pooh sat quietly with his cup of tea, watching Owl perch wisely upon a branch. After a long pause, Pooh finally spoke. “Owl,” he said softly, “why is it that sometimes no matter how much you want someone to change, they simply don’t?” Owl adjusted his feathers and looked at Pooh with kind eyes saying: “Because, Pooh Bear, change cannot be given to someone who does not see the need for it. You cannot make another heart grow faster than it wishes to. You cannot open eyes that are not ready to see.”

Pooh thought about this, tracing his paw along the side of his cup. “So what do you do, Owl, when their actions make you sad?” “You remember, Pooh,” Owl replied gently, “that the only part of the story you can write is your own. You cannot rewrite another’s choices, but you can decide how you respond to them—with patience, with boundaries, with kindness, or with distance. That choice is yours.”

Pooh let out a small sigh, then a little smile. “So, it’s not really about changing them—it’s about keeping my heart steady, no matter what they do.” Owl nodded. “Exactly, Pooh. And in learning that, you find peace because peace does not come from controlling others, but from guiding yourself.” And as the breeze rustled the leaves around them, Pooh realized that some wisdom is not about honey, or even about answers, but about learning the gentle art of letting go.

The art of letting things go is difficult for all of us—but if we cannot let it go, we are the ones who are stuck in our own prison. Drawing from multiple Scriptures, the gentle art of letting go is a spiritual practice rooted in humility, surrender, and trust in God’s will. The Bible teaches that letting go is not passive inaction but an active choice to rely on God’s strength and wisdom rather than our own. Here are a few to help you let go and find peace: 

Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.  Ephesians 4:31-32 MSG “Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”

To learn the art of letting go, we need to acknowledge and accept the reality of situations beyond our control. We need to allow ourselves to feel and process emotions without resistance. So, be gentle and kind to yourself as you take small, intentional steps to detach from the past so you can make space for new experiences. Let the Holy Spirit in so she can help you practice mindfulness and deep prayer. In doing this you will find the freedom you cherish, the anxiety you don’t want, and most of all, you will move forward with greater joy and a much better perspective. You can’t do it on your own, but with God you can do it so DO IT! AMEN.