I feel so much empathy for those suffering because I know what a broken heart feels like. When it doesn’t feel like the most wonderful time of the year, God has shown me He has an eternal purpose. If I don’t give up too soon, His purpose produces Hope.
I learned how to live with grief like a guest that wouldn’t leave. Just before the ninth anniversary of Nicholas’s death, when I was reliving the days leading up to the horrific event, expecting a different outcome that never came, God performed a Christmas miracle and Living Hope was born.
It was easy to be hope-filled as long as everything was going well. Then God allowed me to see what pain really felt like. My story is a tragic love story where the end is written but not yet realized as Living Hope is waiting to be born.
Do you remember when your mother would light the birthday candles and tell you to make a wish? Sometimes your wish came true but sometimes it didn’t. Our wishes change over time to include beautiful sunsets and adventures with loved ones. What if those moments could last forever?
Have you ever felt completely alone in your misery, that God is very far from you, leaving you to wallow in a pit of despair, left to wonder how long will this last? My God, why have you forsaken me?
I am tempted to give up too soon when the outcome is different from what I desired. I’m talking about real hurts that I cannot imagine could be a part of God’s plan.
When we followed the ambulance carrying Nicholas to the Emergency Room, we had hope that he would be revived. Even though it did not look promising, we prayed for a miracle. We were hanging on, asking God to work through the ER staff and save our child. What was the basis of our Hope?
Death doesn’t win! You can know with confidence that what comes next for God’s children is an exciting adventure where we use our gifts and abilities to bring Him glory in a physical place that Jesus is preparing.
