Simple Fragments

Some of them hurt as I pick them up. The memories piercing deep into my heart. Others feel beautiful and smooth like polished glass.

As I pick up these fragments of my life I wonder at their meaning. A friend who turned on me. A group of homeschoolers that never accepted me. People who would call me names in front of my back. A drought of more than just rain to dry earth. People who didn't come through. These fragments have cut deep, slicing away opportunities, killing dreams, and causing more pain than I can tell.

Through the tears I see other fragments. Shards of beauty. Singing in the spring sunshine. Dancing in Daddy's arms. The warm hugs of my family. A performance done well. The loving touch of a friend. A teachers laughter. A song that lifted up eyes heaven-ward. I could go on like his forever, maybe one day I will.

As I cling to this fragile shard called now, I think about these fragments of my life. All of the seemingly unrelated and broken things that make up my life. What is God doing? All I see are fragmented pieces of a seemingly meaningless story.

But as I look closer I see love. Like tiny steel rods that can't be broken crisscrossing through the fragments of cut glass. God's love crisscrosses through all of these fragments binding them together in some mystical and wonderful way.

I stand back and look at these fragments framed by love. Light spills through illuminating the truth. All these shards come together to create a picture of His love and grace. And I am on my knees praising God for the fragments that show His love.

Simple Hurt

Okay I know that you would never guess from some of my more recent posts, but I'm hurting. It's been a rough week for our entire family. My Granddad is dying. They have given him just days to live.
Needless to say this is hard on all of us.
I'm worried and running around trying to keep myself busy. Sometimes it's just a way of doing something so that I don't have to think about the worry and the pain.
Then whenever I slow down enough to really think, God whispers that it will be all right. He will be with me. Everything will work out. All things work out for the good.
As I listen, my heart becomes lighter. I'm able to work with a spring in my step. I may be hurting, but I know that God and I will get through it together. I'm never alone, and that makes all the difference.