A Life of Gratitude

Over the weekend my family celebrated the life of my cousin, Chris. He passed away suddenly at only 48 years old, but the impact he had on others in those 48 years is immeasurable. During the service, the pastor said, "Chris knew how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable." It was just a quick line in the full story he was telling about Chris, but it stuck out to me and I've been thinking about it since.  Many years ago Chris had a terrible allergic reaction to a medication, causing him to lose one of his eyes and most of the vision in his remaining eye. As a result, so much about his life changed dramatically, including his job, his independence, his ability to drive, etc. However, he never let  the difficulties of his trials change who he was. He had always been a "no excuses" type person. He was dependable, determined, and devoted and that didn't change because of his circumstances. The discomfort life handed him didn't cause him to become bitter or a

Yesterday, a brother in Christ looked at my friend and me and said, "God loves His daughters." Then he said, "Women really need that reminder." His words rolled around in my mind the rest of the day and the more I thought about them, the more I appreciated his willingness to say what He felt the Lord wanted us to hear. He's right, women really need that reminder, and they need it often. Earlier that morning, I read a passage from Isaiah, that suddenly spoke to me in a whole new way.  "You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." Isaiah 62:3-5 What a beautiful reminder o