Even when it hurts

This walk You’ve destined for me,

May not be the easiest of things

But I’ve learnt not to always ask for the easy ones

Because true sweetness can only be savoured if bitterness is first cringed at

Thank You,

For the days when I feel alone,

Because that is how I’m reminded

Of the beauty of never being lonely 

When You choose to reside in my heart

Thank You,

For the pain and heartaches

Because only then do I get the salve of your compassion

When Your touch heals me where it hurts

Thank You

For the tricky slopes of life

The high cliffs and low valleys

Because only then do I get to experience

how awesome it is to have You fight my battles

Thank You

For loss no matter how insufferable at the moment

Because only then am I reminded

That eternity is not what my mortal mind conceives

But eternity,

Is the everlasting fabric of Your perfect design.

The grace of which You wish to clothe me in,

And the emblem of which I am to carry.

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Boston is but one of many

A little girl, 8 years old

“ Grandpa, why are there bad people in the world ? “

There is no why, only hope

and prayer

The blank of intolerance,

That smearing blur of hate,

blinding anger

Are all these melded into one big ball of confusion

Until your cause can only be justified through tears and blood ?

Does peace and quiet heighten the thunders in your head ?

Can your voice only be heard through explosions and broken lives ?

Does this calamity of senseless loss

Shed more sense in the roar of your mindless lashings ?

and does it heal your wound to cut another ?

Is your walk less lonely

When a crowd falls with you ?

Does it give you sight to blind another ?

That ticking bomb in your hand, does it match the race of your discontent ?

Does it make you feel powerful to hold

powerless lives at your temporary mercy ?

Can you exchange your pain

for the bleeding heart of a parent’s loss ?

Question after question after question

Hurt upon hurt

Contagious confusion

But only one thing rings clear

The answers are not in clenched fists

and bitter vengeance

because retribution does not decode the answer

A little girl, 8 years old

Broken dreams and shattered breaths

a future prematurely robbed and erased

There is no why, only hope

and prayer

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3 words

Today's smile-inducer : Hope. It's the middle of a week that isn't going very right. I sat down today and read this 

" For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as i am fully known. And now these three remain : Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. "  - 1 Corinthians 13 : 12 - 13

The bravest prayer

Today's smile-inducer : Trust and free falling. 

How many times do we say that we fully trust the word of the Lord, but actually really put into practice whatever comes out of our mouths ? Personally, this prayer would be a challenge for me. It's hard to admit this, but I tend to be a bit of an overachiever. Fast paced lifestyles with close to zero downtime appeals to me, and I get a kick from all that adrenaline rush. It hasn't been a really healthy way of life, not physically, not mentally, and definitely not spiritually. 

I'm relying on this prayer now. As a reminder that when you choose to free fall, don't think of first laying safety nets, because that's just cheating. If He put me on that cliff, He'll catch me when it's time to. 

O God, I beg two favours from you;
let me have them before I die.
First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches !
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say " Who is the Lord ?"
And if I am too poor, I may steal and then insult God's holy name.
- Proverbs 30 : 7 - 9 

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Morning conversations

Today's smile-inducer : Childlike reminders. 

Was reading this prayer with him the other morning. Had to bite back a smile when I realized that regardless of whether your age is in single or double digits, this is still so so very relevant. 

Good morning, God, 

I want to give today my very best, 

Please lead me and help me give my best in all I do. 

In Jesus' name, 

Amen.