This morning, I was sitting at my desk enjoying a few quiet moments, and in a pause of thought, looked up at my bulletin board. I blogged about this in January, it's the place where I display all the photo cards I receive at Christmas, and add the ones throughout the year. This year, it's very, very full, and as I looked at the dozens of faces there smiling at me, I was reminded how fortunate I am to have each and every one of those people in my life. I have been abundantly blessed!
The board includes a lot of young faces these days. I am now watching the children of my far-flung friends grow up in Christmas cards. In a perfect world, you would all live in my town and we could meet regularly to visit and catch up, but since God has led each of us to cities miles apart, I treasure the snapshots you've sent. They remind me not only of my blessings, but also to pray for you.
I don't know if it's because I am older, or because I pay more attention, but it seems there is so much brokenness in the world. Last week, friends of mine wrote to say that their mom was diagnosed with cancer and had begun a difficult fight to beat it. Another friend lost her mom recently, a dear lady and someone who was special to me, too. Some friends have children who have faced health or other challenges. I guess it's freaking me out enough that my friends' parents are starting to struggle with age, and it's doubly hard to watch the kiddos have to bravely fight such grown-up challenges.
Through it all, though, you have shown the most incredible bravery and found renewed and strengthened faith. Somehow, when the way is hardest is when our faith is greatest. I've been there, and in situations not as difficult. I thank you for sharing your stories of faith with me, for being so honest about your fears and struggles, but also testifying to God's faithfulness that brought you through.
God is Good. My bulletin board is proof of that.
Wow, that sounds awful. I hate to hear when another person has cancer. The numbers seems to keep growing and growing.
ReplyDeleteI was going through a dark period in November where I thought the world was just going to end (too many natural disasters, the economy going on the pot, disease becoming more widespread). It just seems like more than we can handle. But then my dad reminded me that God reveals himself through all of that, and it's all in his control. Hold on to Him.