Faithful hearts

Over the years, there has been a number of tragedies that have happened that have stuck with me.  A few years ago, I ran across a blog where a mother had created a Face Book page for her son who was battling a rare form of cancer in his brain.  This little boy was only 2 years old, but boy did he change my life.  At the time, I was growing spiritually in my relationship with Christ, but it wasn't until I read his story and and how dependent and obedient of a child of God his mother was, that I truly understood walking by faith.  The little boy ended up losing his battle with cancer, but was greeted by God into our heavenly home and his mom with grace and dignity, stirred something in my heart.  Another story was of a man who lost his wife in a car accident and was left to pick up the pieces of life for him and his two children with out her.  Today I read another story, about a family that lost everything in the Arkansas Tornado.  They lost their house and their precious two boys.  Other precious lives were lost that day, but this family in particular has impacted my soul.  

What do all of these stories have in common?  Loss, grief, but most of all the faithful hearts and bountiful love for Jesus.  How does one pick up the pieces after so much of their normal is taken from them?  How does a parent pick up and move on after losing the most precious part of themselves?  Thinking about each of these families and the loss that each of them has experienced has literally taken my breath away.  I look at the blessings in my life and can not fathom how I would be able to find normal again.  Each of these families do, but not alone.  They have found the inner peace in knowing that each of their loved ones were simply passing through and that Earth is only their temporary home.  They understand that each of us have a mission on Earth and when that mission is complete, it is time to return home to our Father.  

Romans 14:8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

When tragedy strikes and your normal is taken from you, take comfort in knowing that your loved one is happy and free from the burdens and constrictions of Earth.  They are home with Jesus singing praises in the holy kingdom.  

My relationship with Jesus was strengthened by the bravery that each of these families exhibited.  Regardless, if I have physically ever met them, I was affected deeply and will forever be changed.