“Rejoice with those who rejoice, 

mourn with those who mourn.” 

I never identified with that before. 

At least the mourning part. 

Until a year ago... 

I was living in Texas. 

God’s Country. 

I nannied my niece. 

Mondays were prayer request days. 

My niece napped 2-3 hours a day. 

It gave me time to pray. 

I would use other days to pray too. 

I was lazy one day. 

I wanted to just chill. 

Watch a movie or something. 

I didn’t “feel” like praying that day.

Then the phone rang. 

It was my aunt. 

She asked me to pray. 

There had been a death; a suicide. 

A teenage boy. 

I met his sister once but never met him.

I said “Ok, I’ll be praying.” and hung up. 

It took a second to register. 

And then the tears came. 

Lots of tears. 

Shaking shoulders. 

Deep gasps to breathe out sorrow. 

The devil just messed with the wrong girl.

I was no longer too lazy to pray. 

I didn’t know what to say.

But God provided for that. 

The next few days were a blur of tears. 

If I wasn’t crying, I was on the verge. 

There was a black cloud of incredible sadness. 

I couldn’t shake it. 

I mourned.

For a stranger.

For the parents who lost their son.

For the sisters who lost their brother. 

For some kids who lost their best friend.

Today is the anniversary of his Home going. 

I didn’t know him, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget him.

His mom writes a blog.
I cry every time I read it.
Its raw, its real.
My heart swells with thankfulness at God's faithfulness.
Despite the pain, the ache, the storms of life...
There's grace, there's hope and joy amidst it all.

// I'm alive

Even though a part of me has died

You take my heart and breathe it back to life

I've fallen into your arms open wide

When the hurt and the healer collide

It's the moment when humanity

Is overcome by majesty

When grace is ushered in for good

And all the scars are understood

When mercy takes its rightful place

And all these questions fade away

When out of the weakness we must bow

And hear You say "It's over now" //

(The Hurt And The Healer by MercyMe)

The Narrow Road

Matthew 7:14

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

For the past few weeks, every morning I have been going for a walk with my niece, Madeleine. It's one of my favourite parts of the day. The fresh air is wonderful and as she goes along the path, she often runs and squeals in delight as she looks at the nature around her. My time is spent trying to keep up with her and keeping her on on the path. Sometimes keeping her on the path requires picking her up and bringing her back to the path when she's wandered off it, sometimes it's gently guiding her shoulders to face forward and encouraging her to keep going; sometimes when she gets tired, she lays down on the sidewalk and then I pick her up and carry her till she's rested. 

Just got to thinking one day that this is what  God does for us; brings us back to the path, turns us forward again and encourages us to keep going, and then He carries us when we can't go on our own anymore. 

If you've chosen to follow Jesus and you're walking the narrow road, don't give up. When you've stopped or gotten off track, God's made it simple to come back to Him. And when you're tired and don't feel like going on much further, allow Him to carry you. 

He said, "My grace is sufficient for you."