Monday, December 1, 2014

Truly Living



Lord, please be with the Swink family right now. Give them comfort and peace. I know it hurts You to see us in this pain. I know that sometimes no matter how much we implore, You have a plan...even when we cannot begin to understand it. It's in these moments that our trust and faith may barely hang on. We may even let go, but I know that You never let go of each of us.
We are Your children. As a child begs and begs his Father for something...sometimes the Father does not grant the request, despite how much it hurts Him to see the pain and sorrow of His child. The child gets upset and cries...but the Father understands. He reaches out, scoops up His little one, and holds him in His big arms, close to His heart, as He gently reassures, "It's okay, it's okay, My child. I know it's hard." He kisses the top of His child's head and whispers, "I love you."
Lord, I pray for the acceptance of Your will in all of our hearts. I know You understand if we cannot accept it right away...but help us to cling to You in these times, and not run away. We need You all the more.
Also, please please reveal Your plan to the Swink family...at least someday...when You know the time is right. So that they may see what amazing things you have done, are doing, and will continue to do through Chandler.
We forget that our journeys are not all to be ones of 90 years. And we forget to thank You for the time that we do have. Thank You, Lord, for giving us Chandler and for the time that You have blessed our lives with him.
You did answer our prayer. Maybe not how we had expected, but You did. We prayed that he would live. Well now he is living in the fullest possible way.
From the moment we are born here on earth, we are dying. There exists suffering, confusion, and pain. But now Chandler is TRULY LIVING. He is living more than any of us here...to the fullest extent with You.
He is living the everlasting life.
Father, we know that as deep as this pain is in our hearts, there is happiness and joy even greater in Chandler's. While you comfort us in our mourning and hold us dearly in Your arms, You also rejoice as You embrace Chandler with the biggest hug and welcome him home. You hold us with him, together in Your embrace.
Until the day when You, Chandler, and all others who await us greet us with the ultimate "Welcome Home" hugs...give us the peace that only comes from You.
Amen.

Just before I heard the news tonight, my phone vibrated with the daily devotion:
"They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust The Lord to care for them." Psalm 112:17

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