thankful. hopeful.

So, it all began last weekend when I got together with 2 of my best friends from college. We began talking of all the stories of friends who have lost children to tragedy, friends who have cancer, or friends who are struggling just to get by in life. I began to cry at each and every story told and have continued throughout this last week just reading friend's blogs and websites about what others are going through. As I read, I realize the consistent theme of how all are coping and living each day with hope for the next-Jesus. His life and death was, is, and will be enough to cover us and carry us throughout today and every day after. So, here I am today, so very thankful for my family, my friends, and all the abundance that God has given to us.

Lamentations 3:20-33 (The Message)

It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God. I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst