“Come now you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.” James 4:13

It has been a difficult last 3 months to say the least. On December 28, we lost avery precious friend after a long and difficult struggle with cancer. On January 13 we lost my sister-in-law (Robert’s younger sister) after an even more brutal struggle with cancer, filled with pain and suffering. And we now know that his older sister in all likelihood has lung cancer in addition to COPD. And just this week I lost my great uncle to Alzheimers. Sorrow and sadness have been our frequent guests…and yet!!

AND YET!! Each of these beautiful people in our lives were (and are) born again, Jesus loving, and daily testimonies to the love and grace of our Lord and Savior. So while we have great loss here, they have NOTHING but great gain! They have seem the fulfillment of their faith and trust, and are now in heaven rejoicing with all the saints and living in the very presence of God. What a wonderful transformation compared to their last days here! For my uncle to know not only who he is again, but also where..and enjoy all of heaven in full knowledge! For my sister-in-law, who had so little here, to gain a mansion! For my friend to be able to give up the daily struggle to beeathe and fight pain and to luve where there is no more pain or sorrow!

So what now? How do we get beyond all of this, adjust to the losses, accept a new normal without those we loved? How do we still believe that God is good? His Word and all its promises, and OUR relationship with Him. His grace that gives us every new morning, and no matter how difficult that new day appears, clinging to Him minute by minute, knowing He has a reason for giving us that day. Trusting in Him that there is a reason for what we are going through..then doubting it..the trusting..then doubting..over and over till the day ends and we can once again see that He carried us.

And then this: recognizing the small, beautiful things and moments He gives us along the way. Yesterday was a beautiful day..ordinary workday, then off work… and yet! It was employee appreciation day at work, and I had a free doughnut at breakfast, and then free fresh-Mex tacos for lunch paid for by our owner. I served a precious couple yesterday that were celebrating their 68th, yes 68th anniversary! I listened to them share a few minutes about their marriage. I saw a little girl get so excited about her Curious George book in her Chickfila kids meal, and then minutes later passsd by her table again to catch her mother reading it to her, both of them absorbed in it. Robert, Mom and I went to Valdosta yesterday afternoon to get our motorcycle out of the shop, and got to eat at Cracker Barrell (our favorite) because of a gift certificate from friends, and then when Mom and I were alone in the car on the way back each of us quietly singing along with the contemporary Christian radio!

Do you see a pattern here? God is SO good. He is SO merciful. He is Grace. He is King of the world. And yet He knows when we hurt, and when we need Him most. He knows how to give us moments of beauty no matter what we face. And as this old old hymn says,

“Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here. Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear……Help me Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, ever to take as from a father’s handone by one, the days and moments fleeting, till with Christ the Lord I stand”. Amen!