A Day to Stop

This morning, a pair of young brothers were killed in an early morning car accident, as well as the passenger of the other car. It was the first slippery roads of the season, and it resulted in a fiery crash.

I can't even imagine - believing in God, I know everything has a purpose, and this gives me peace during difficult situations. I just hope that if, God forbid, the difficult situation ever becomes mine, that I can hold onto that peaceful belief. I really hope so.

One of my daughter's little preschool mates has a five year old sister who is facing cancer in 90% of her body. They were giving her morphine every couple of hours, and the hospital that would be giving her some major radiation, said that if she was in too much pain, they wouldn't even give her radiation. Anne (Lilah's preschool teacher) and a few of us girls were discussing it at our weekly Bible study, and she said that the mother is just kind of at a loss right now. Kind of pulling away from God, because she just doesn't understand. The whole time in my head, I kept thinking, 'Oh, but you have to hold on. You have to know that even in this horrific, confusing time, there is a beautiful reason that this is happening.' I felt torn that she was pulling away from God, because I would never be angry with God, because I know He has a plan. Or would I? Lilah knows just which buttons to push and can really get the best of me, but she's my best friend. A part of me walking this earth. Even thinking about these scary situations, paralyzes me to put Lilah in those shoes. I stop breathing and almost feel a small part of me die for a split second.

You really don't know how you will react or the things you will do until actually faced with the situation. So I can't say with certainty that I would be able to just go with it - I'm hoping that is not sinning to say out loud, but hey, I'm human :). I do, however, feel a certain truth deep in my bones about the subject, though. I think it would be the only way for me to get through it. Knowing that this was planned before Lilah was even born. Knowing that everything God does, is for our good. We may not understand it at the time.... or until we get to Heaven. God is my refuge.

I just pray that the family of the car accident this morning and of that little girl can just hold on to God. It feels to me wrong to be telling these people this when I've never been there. The audacity of me is almost sickening. I just know that God is always there, and that His plan has been put in place long before now with a perfect fit. Our kids, our mothers, our brothers.... everyone was and is his first.

God, please show your grace on these families as well as all struggling and mourning. Show them that you are there and the path that they are to travel from this point on. Wrap your loving embrace around your children as you welcome theirs home. Glory be to You!