The Joys and Pain of this World

I am standing at the island in my kitchen listening to the happy sounds of my children as they eat their lunch. My heart is full and overflowing with emotions. I can't seem to stop the tears from running down my face. I am praying that this post with be cathartic and that once the typing begins, the tears will stop and my children will not be concerned as to why their mom is crying. The subject is heavy and if I am struggling with it, I am sure that they would not know what to do with these weighty thoughts.

On one end of the spectrum I have nervous excitement as my cousin and his wife are expecting their second child. I am thrilled for them, but can only imagine that they are somewhat tentative with their celebrations. Several years ago, shortly after birth, their son was diagnosed with Moebius syndrome and their lives were irrevocably changed. Their dreams didn't end, but I am certain that they changed. Reality is so much different than they thought it would be. They now have been blessed again and will add another baby to their lives. This is the positive note that started my day. Lord, please bring them to mind frequently over the coming months. Draw them to you Lord.

Excitement for a new life...what a wonderful thing.

This afternoon as I opened my computer to catch up on some email I was greeted with a different sort of story. A couple that Dean went to college with have had months full of heartache. Just over a year ago they gave birth to two beautiful little girls. Unfortunately, one of the girls suffered brain damage to every area of her brain except for her brain stem just before birth. Each time I have read an update my heart has ached for this family. I remember mom and dad as young, carefree college students. Life wasn't better for them then, necessarily, just simpler and filled with less heartache. Today I read that their sweet little girl will only be with them for a few more days. Several days ago she developed pneumonia and it seems that her broken little body won't be able to survive this set back. Hospice has been called in and prayers are lifted up that she will be comfortable and she waits to run into her Father's arms.

For these reasons, my heart has felt a range of emotions today and for both of these families I have shed tears. One set of tears were joyful and one set were filled with pain. I am not attempting to make the joy and the pain of these families my own. I would not dare to be so arrogant as to presume that I could fully understand the intricacies of their situations. I only know that I want to preserve their stories, the little that I know of them. I only know that I want to be reminded to lift them up in my prayers on a regular basis, that they would know that they have people who love them and are thinking of them and are speaking their names aloud to our sovereign Lord.