A Time To Mourn

My heart is heavy. There has been so much bad news lately. Tornadoes. Cancer. Devastation. Death.

Even as people from my state have been trying to get their lives back in order after the huge tornado outbreak last month, another devastating tornado hit Joplin, Missouri. I watched on the news last night as they spoke to the school superintendent there. Three schools, as well as their central office, were completely destroyed. Many people lost their lives. Some are still missing. It's just awful. My heart goes out to them.

A dear friend and co-worker has recently found out that her dad has bladder cancer. He is 78. He has refused any type of treatment. My father-in-law, Ray, had blader cancer a couple of years ago, so I can relate. And, while Ray did have chemo & radiation, it was hard to see him lose so much weight and be so weak. He made it through it, though. I'm sure it bought him more time with us, before it finally overtook him just last month. :'( I pray for my friend as she goes through this with her dad. I pray for strength to get her through the rough road ahead. She has a strong faith. She is one of the godliest women I know. But, I know that her faith is about to be tested. May she stand steadfast for the Lord. May He comfort her. Lead, guide, and direct her.

On Saturday, one of my son's classmates drowned at a company picnic down at Lake Guntersville. This young man, a junior in high school, had his whole life ahead of him. He was a member of the high school football team. While trying to remember who he was, Jordan told me that he used to play peewee football with him. This was such a sad, sad loss. It has touched this community so deeply. Tonight they will play a scrimmage game in his honor, with a love offering for the family being collected at the gate. How tragic. Make sure you hug your kids. Tell your family that you love them. You just never know...

With all this sadness, a brighter day has to be just around the corner, right? I'm so ready for a glimmer of hope. But, it made me wonder why things seem so dark at times. But then, I remembered these verses from Ecclesiastes 3   KJV:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Yes. A time to mourn, indeed. But I'm looking forward to that time to dance.

God bless you, friends.