Gratitude

I want to state my testimony of the great plan of happiness and salvation that God has prepared for all of us, His children. He wants us back. He gave us Christ so He can have us back, if we are willing to do our small part. And then, it doesn't end. Life doesn't end. What a merciful God to give us forever.

I mourn and grieve for the family of my friend who has passed away. That woman, there aren't many of her kind, and I will miss her. But knowing that she is working and thriving and loving on the other side of the veil makes me feel, strangely, joyful. She is unfettered by an ailing body, by hunger, or fatigue. And that lady is a mover and a shaker. She must have things rolling like crazy up there.

I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to mourn with those I love. I think empathy, compassion, and friendship are priceless gifts from our Lord. I love being part of a church family that encircles each other when we need strength. Thank you, my friends, for that.

It is a great strength to me to know that Jesus has felt and suffered each pain, heartache, illness, fear, and sin that myself and each of us has ever suffered. I feel confidence that when I pray for His comfort to fall upon someone suffering thus, that it will come and fill up every corner of ache with His love, because He knows it so well, and He knows us so well. I love that. When I am a broken down person who can't even frame words to pray, I know that He knows the feelings and He knows how to care for me. This has been my strongest prayer for my friends now, that His peace will visit them in their anguish. Man, I love them so much.

That's it. God lives, and He is great. I love Him and rededicate myself now to following Him more closely and exactly. Amen.