It’s only Tuesday.
I keep thinking it’s Thursday.
Not that it really makes much difference.
I just lose track.
It’s only been two days.
My life friend lost her mother. Her mother was a second mom to me in college.
It’s only been 3 months.
Her dear daddy passed. Just 3 months before her mom.
It’s been almost a year.
Our third musketeer went home to Him. She was too young… and her kids are just… kids.
Then there’s the little one my family loves so much… my 3-year-old’s bestie. Her headaches are back. Her little body fights. We don’t know if it’s congestion, or the shunt.
Then there’s the anniversary of her mama’s passing. Almost a year ago. Her family fights on. Her new mommy warms her new mother arms with little ones.
Then there’s the family who just lost their daddy. He was too young. His children may not even remember him. His wife… I can hardly bear the thought. It’s just too much.
Story after story after story.
Then the news. The mess out there. The fighting and bickering… and we are on the same side. I think.
Sometimes it’s just too much.
My dear friend… she can barely muster the will to go to her own mom’s funeral. It’s all just. too. much.
And we feel lost… and alone… and broken… and afraid… and just plain exhausted.
He brought us light. He saw that it was good. Sometimes we get lost in the shadows.
He brought us love. Sometimes we accept it. Sometimes we are just too busy to notice… or too blind to see it… or too hurting to feel it.
The morning my friend’s mother passed into the Ages, her two young daughters were baptized. They didn’t know their Nanny had passed. The baptism was scheduled weeks before. There are no coincidences. Only God’s timing. Even when it hurts.
When the girls heard of their grandmother passing… the words of their daddy,
the morning your names are written in the book of the Lamb…
is the morning your Nanny passes into His arms.
There are no coincidences.
He brought us light.
He came here. He died here. He rose again here.
He brought us life.
Sometimes it’s all just too much.
But, just when it feels like it’s all just too much… He brings us life.
He brings us a new life.
When we feel like we can’t take one more step… he picks us up…
and breathes life.
Romans 6:3-4
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
This was achy beautiful and raw, but I truly connected. We’ve been swimming through a sea of loss around here to and it is hard and hurts, but God sees us and this broken world and holds us up somehow, doesn’t He? Thanks for these words and the bright hope that is woven even in the dark.
Thank you, Jessica. It IS hard and it does hurt. He is here, bringing light to our shadows. Your words bless me here and your friendship is one more piece of His light.