life

Take Heart!

I watched through the tears I could no longer hold back as crowds lined the road, waving flags and saluting a fallen hero. The hearse approached and four men, veterans from a war long ago, saluted and held the American flag high with a mixture of pride and sorrow clearly etched in their faces. This hero, too young to be gone, sacrificed everything for his country. For us. I watched as his hometown showed their appreciation in the only way they knew how, by simply standing along the road offering their gratitude to the family he left behind. And my heart was heavy.

I answered the phone and heard the news. “She only has weeks, maybe months to live.” The questions began. How can this be? They said the word remission. You can’t just reverse that diagnosis, right? Questions that have no answers. At least none that soothe. They say things like, “She’s lived a long life, a good life” and it’s meant to bring solace. Instead, it makes my heart heavy.

Ending. Closing. Finishing. Life is full of these moments. Heavy-hearted moments.

“Take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

I opened the mail to find a wedding invitation. The anticipation and hope of things to come could almost be felt as I read the words requesting our presence at the ceremony celebrating their union.

In a text message I read about the birth of a healthy baby boy. The pride and joy was tangible even through the small screen of my phone. Words gushing with excitement and love.

Beginning. Commencing. Starting. Life is full of these moments. Heartfelt moments.

Situations entangle themselves, bringing about emotion on top of emotion. Goodbyes followed by hellos. Sorrow pursued by joy. Laughter in the midst of tears. Endings and beginnings.

Life.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT

Enough is Enough

I’ve decided that being an adult isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I’ve been thinking about this as I watch my oldest daughter, who is on the verge of turning 18, trying to come to grips with what being an adult looks like. I remember that pull to leave home, take responsibility for myself, and make my own way. I remember struggling with why I believe what I believe and if I really believe what I’ve said I do. I remember making compromises that never should have been made and standing firm on things that were insignificant at best.

Walking into the world of adulthood is tough.
So is living in it.

There are endless responsibilities. Laundry, meals, bills, cleaning, not to mention raising little people who are counting on you for pretty much everything. There are decisions that have to be made every 20 seconds and a simple yes or no question can turn into a lengthy debate that involves words like “moral fortitude” and “eternal ramifications.”

This adult thing is hard. As grownups, we’re supposed to know stuff. We’re supposed to be in control and know when to relinquish it. We’re expected to make rules, and know when to change them. We’re told to be present until it’s time to step aside. We’re supposed to know the answers to not just the easy questions, but the hard ones, too. The ones that we wrestled with back in the day and then came to grips with not ever fully understanding.

The truth is, it’s not just being an adult that is hard. Life is hard. It’s full of endless decisions and questions we may never know the answer to while we walk on this earth.

One thing I know for sure…I know the One who has the answers.
I know the One who knows the plan.
I know the One who has written the end of the story.
And for now, that is enough.

Take Heart!

Enough is Enough

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