photo: @SoulScripts
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love. Psalm 143:8
Today marks the one year anniversary of when Diane, my beloved mother-in-law, flew home to Jesus. We think about you a lot, Nana. Ryan and I like to share stories and memories of you often. We laugh at some of your "I love Lucy" tales and cry when the ache from missing you is stronger than we can bear. But you know something? Ryan and I both have drawn closer to the Lord since a year ago. And the thing is, the closer we grow towards God, the closer we feel to you.
I have never seen anyone grieve as gracefully as I have witnessed my husband grieve for you. He has taught me so much about the beautiful balance of enjoying the wonders of this temporary world while investing all my treasures in the eternal. He has showed me how to find rest in God's comfort.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
We see Pops at least twice a week. During our time with him, there's no distractions. We have all learned to plan less and prioritize each other more. I cherish our time with Pops. As do Briggs and Kerigan. He's always in the present moment with them. They adore him. And as the kids are giggling or reciting their ABC's with Pops, in the back of our minds, I'm sure we're all thinking we wish Nana were here too. Although it pains our human hearts that she's not physically here, if we see with eternal eyes, she is.
photo: @SoulScripts
My faith has been stretched and molded over and over again especially the last year. I want to see the bigger picture. I want to desire Jesus and not the things of this world. I want to know there is good that comes of all things if we set our eyes on Christ. I recently came across a beautiful reminder. Here's an excerpt from one of my favorite bloggers (you can find her on IG @SoulScripts).
Life can be rough. Just as we begin to get comfortable in cruise control, an unexpected detour almost always seems to follow, causing us to grip the wheel & slam on the breaks. Sometimes we can immediate see good in these unexpected places in which we praise God for His blessings.
But more often than not His blessings are not the unexpected detours, but rather the RESULT of them. These twists & turns are just that- twists and turns. Trials. Challenges. Not easily navigated. In the midst of the detour, it can be unbelievably hard to see the purpose or the good that could possibly result. But it always does.
There is always a purpose to trials & suffering of every kind (James 1:2). Scripturally, there are 3 main reasons for suffering:
1. Suffering is God's way of perfecting us.
2. Suffering is a means of spreading the Gospel.
3. In persevering through suffering, we see God.
So, whether our suffering perfects our faith, gives us the opportunity to identify with Christ & be His witness, or reveals the face of God & a deeper trust in Him, the trials we face bring beautiful gospel growth when it's all said and done. So why do we worry?
Remember this beautiful truth: when you are sifted, when you face great trials & temptations, Christ & the Holy Spirit intercede for you through prayer. You may grow in perseverance because each trial passes through Christ's prayer & the merciful hand of God. (Hebrews 7:25)
So during our time of of any sufferings or heartache, Soul Scripts says:
Cling to Romans 8:28
He works all things together for our good.
My human comprehension is being challenged to try to understand this. And in stepping back, and really trying to digest the bigger picture, I begin to find peace and understanding.
Diane,
What an honor it has been to be your daughter. What a blessing it has been to learn from your love without boundaries. I am thankful I was able to witness you hold your first grand baby. And I will never forget the excitement in your voice when you found out you had a granddaughter. You may have been bound to a wheelchair the second half of your life. But I am bound by selfishness, pride & other curses of the flesh. And you loved me anyways. You taught me to be a better person. You taught me humility, grace and how to always carry the joy of the Lord. I am honored to be a part of your family and humbled to be taking part in raising your little legacies. You were the closest thing to an angel on earth that I have ever known. We will never stop teaching our babies about the love that you had for them and for others.
Today is a new morning. Today is a new day. Let us take this day to arise & rejoice in His steadfast love just as you did. Let everyone know and believe what you did:
Let your life be made new.
Wrap yourself in His love.
You are so worth loving.
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