Tears! Agony! Emotional, Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Pain.
That is what this week has held for so many people across the world. It feels we have been consumed by the tragedies of the last week.
Morgan and I lost two very special men in our lives this last week. Both strong men who loved life. Darrel and Ted were both country "folk" with loving, compassionate hearts, big smiles, great stories of days gone by, sweet spirits, and humble lives. We lost Darrel the first day, the Boston Explosion happened the next day, West, Texas explosions happened the following day, and Ted was lost the next day.
To add to the pain the Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing was this week, the Virginia Tech Massacre, the Titanic sank, Abraham Lincoln passed away, the Great Mississippi Flood occurred during this week, the US Embassy in Lebanon was bombed, the Waco Branch Dividian fire, and Columbine.
For those of us who have been struck with more than one of these tragedies causing lives we loved to be lost it is a very hard week.
As a nation we pull together, rely on each other and God, in times of distress. However, as days go by and weeks turn into months we lose the intimate relationship with others and with God. Days get busy, joy returns, we "go on" the best we can. We forget how much we need others and how badly we need to rely on the Lord daily.
We forget that the Lord helped us to not lose our minds when these bad things happened. We forget that He comforted us through other peoples words and actions. We forget how compassionate and loving the Lord is and how deeply He loves and cares for us. I am guilty of forgetting. I am guilty of having a few good days in a row and forgetting to have my "quiet time" with the Lord and meditate on Him and His Word.
I am so thankful that the Lord never forgets to have time with me. I am so very thankful that His compassion never fails. His strength, love, and compassion is new everyday. He is faithful.
I hear people saying "Why would a loving God do this, or allow this?". God gives us each a free will. He allows us to make choices. He doesn't want to dictate to us what we are to do. He wants us to come to him, freely, and choose His path. When people do not choose His path and they do evil things innocent people are hurt. The Lord is always there to pick up the pieces of those broken hearts caused by evilness in this world.
People as me "What if your wrong and there is no God?". My answer is always that "if I am wrong and there is no God, then I have had a pretty good life. I have had wonderful, caring friends, a person who I talked to constantly and that never left me--even if He wasn't really there, I have learned the meaning of beauty. I have seen the wonders of flowers blooming, of a renewing of life in Spring, of my grandchildren being born. I have seen so much and lived such a good life because I was positive." Then I always ask them..."What if I am right? Can you say you saw the same things?"
Trials and tribulation will always be here on earth. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Even those we love will sometimes hurt us without every meaning too. Relying on the Lord day-to-day is the ONLY way I can get through all the ups and downs in this world. I am thankful that I live in a place where my beliefs don't cause me to be imprisoned or beheaded.
Thank you Jesus for peace among the storm.
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