Amidst Tragedy

I have been on vacation for two weeks enjoying my family and time away for the everyday hustle and bustle of my life. Granted working from home with my kind of profession I was still "working" the whole time, but totally worth it! I even sold a house while I was away! That is something that God has blessed me to be able to do and enjoy the flexibility with my family. While away, our family learned the shocking news that a good friend of ours; a wife, daughter, sister, teacher, mother of 3, friend and amazing woman passed away in her sleep. Nothing can prepare a family for this type of news. Not only is it heartbreaking and totally unfair to those of us left behind, it is filled with unanswered "why" questions. In times such as these we often turn away from God, this is when we need God the most and must Believe that He is in control. After talking to her husband, I wanted to cry just knowing that he will be okay, he will survive this tragedy and continue living, not only for his children, but for himself. He is still alive, his children are still alive and even though he has a right to grieve and mourn her death, he must still cherish life and live it to it's fullest intent. He shared with me conversations and events that have happened over the last few months of his life that led to prepare him for this inevitable hardship that at the time they took place it would have never occurred to him as to why. God doesn't always prevent certain things from happening in our lives, however I do believe He is in control of helping us through them. I can relate, I have not experienced the loss of a spouse or a child, however I lost a childhood friend at a young age and I was a year older than their oldest son when my father passed away. He was sick for 2 short months and that gave me the time to prepare for his loss, verses her sudden departure, however, I still experienced losing a parent. Not everyone grieves a loss in the same way, and that is okay, but with Faith and Trust we all will get through it. Over the past few days I have experienced the love, respect and admiration that her friends and family have expressed for our lost friend and it is positively overwhelming the people who are willing to help out and make sure that this woman's love, kindness and huge heart are never forgotten in her husband and children's lives. She always seem to make each one of them feel special in her own way! Last night my hubby and I went to bed and re-kindled something we used to do and have since gotten away from. Before going to bed we will say 1 thing that we are grateful for that day. Last night we included our son in this ritual and I look forward to making it a nightly event. Our son must have thought it was a good idea, because he asked us each for 1 more before we put him to bed. Remember to recognize the things you are thankful for each day. Make sure to tell those you love and admire on a daily basis how much they mean to you, stop to appreciate the blessings that surround you. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (NKJV)