Valentine's Day remembrance

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

"And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV


Is it me or is this year also flying by?  Can you believe it's already the middle of February? 

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, a day that so many of us dread. 

Memories of Valentine's Day with Kirk naturally flood my mind.  He wasn't the most romantic man, but he always made sure he brought home something for me, and then for Emily after she was born.  He would always pop by a Hallmark store on his way home from his shop and bring back a card and candy.  Sometimes he would bring home pretty flowers; a couple of times he even thought ahead and ordered flowers.  I can tell you that the most precious reminders of his love for me are the handwritten letters he gave me on a couple of Valentine's Days.  I still read them from time to time and treasure them.  The last one he wrote me was his last Valentine's Day we shared.  I read it every February 14th in private.  It's a way for me to sit, reflect, and let Kirk's love fill me. 

Do you have treasured letters or cards from your beloved that you read from time to time? 

Do you let God's word fill you up? 

Do you know that He is always with you and loves you? 

God loves you beyond measure.  He loves all of His children.  Even though our husbands are no longer with us in physical form does not mean you are not loved well.  He loved us first and His love is all consuming.  1 John 4:19 NIV tells us, "We love because He first loved us." 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 NIV

God loves us and that love fills me up every single second of every single day!! This Valentine's Day immerse yourself in His word and fill your empty tank.  God's precious words of love will speak to your heart and you, in return, can pay back that love to your family, friends, coworkers.  Take Valentine's Day and make it a happy day by blessing others.  Showing Jesus's character will bless so many around you; including yourself.

This weekend we had another reminder of how precious life is.  I ask that if you have some time, if you would say some prayers for a special widow sister that I met when I attended a conference back in November of 2014.  She had lost her first husband and had remarried by the time I met her at the conference. They have four young children. They had adopted three children and are fostering a fourth child. They had recently moved and were just starting a brand new journey together.  Prayers for them are priceless and we are asking everyone to please lift them up with your prayers.  My heart breaks for all of them.  The children are young and haven't been with them for very long.  She is doing as good as she can and just asks for all of us to pray.  Life is so precious, so short and I try not to take any second that God gives me for granted. 

So this Valentine's Day will you say a prayer for Leah and her children and all of their family and friends? 

I pray that you will let God's love fill you up, not only for Valentine's Day, but every day.  Read His word, His love letter to all of us.  Let His love wash over you and give you hope, joy, and peace.  He comforts all who mourn.

 Matthew 5:4 NIV, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Pain in Widowhood

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" Psalm 46:1 NIV

The nights after Kirk's sudden passing, I would lay in bed and let the grief wash over me life a 60 foot wave.  The crashing of this wave would hit me so hard, there were times I couldn't breathe, couldn't move an inch.  There was no escaping this huge wall of grief and the pain was so intense that I didn't know if I could live another minute.  The pain that drilled into my heart and soul was unbearable.  I didn't know how I was going to get through the night, the next day, the next week.  Are you there now?  Did you feel that same way after your spouse or a very close person that you love passed on?  You know that pain very well, unfortunately. 

There are/were times that I sit and try to wrap my mind around the fact that Kirk is gone.  I am now a widow and I have a child that I am solely responsible in her upbringing.  I never imagined being here, I never imagined being a widow at this young of an age.  I never imagined that my daughter would have to grow up without her daddy.  It's heartbreaking from the inside so I can only imagine how my family and friends feel about our situation. 

One of the first decisions Emily and I made into our journey was that we were not going to let this tragedy make us bitter.  We wanted to show everyone that we could not only survive, but thrive from our pain and loss.  We turned to our One and only True lifeguard, Jesus.  We believe wholeheartedly in the scripture Psalm 46:1 NIV, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."   Do you believe this?  I sure hope you do because it's true.  He is always there in good times, and in bad times, and in our worst times.  He is always there loving and comforting us. 

Last week at the church I attend, our pastor talked about God using our pain to draw near to us and I believe that.  I also believe that God uses our pain and turns it into something that we can use for the good of others.  Since being a widow, I have met and found so many other widows that are doing amazing things for the widow community.  There are so many widows that write as I do; have started non for profit organizations that help other widows.  I have been involved in groups of grieving woman and we have lifted each other up in our sorrow.  In Romans 8:28 we read, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."   God has used pain so that many of us can reach out and help others.  Helping other widows by telling my story and listening to their stories not only helps in the healing process, but it's such a blessing for me.  God has blessed me through my pain so that I may reach back and show His glory of healing, compassion, and strength.

I know it's easy to feel like you are alone on this path, but always remember you are NOT ALONE!!  You not only have a whole community of widows that know exactly what you are going through, but you have a God that is always present and willing to shower His love on you.  He tells us this in Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Never forgot that!! You have the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords, the Maker of the universe, the Alpha and Omega in YOUR corner!!!  How absolutely amazing is that?!!  I feel it's above and beyond anything else!!!  EVER!!  When you feel like you are drowning, reach out and grab hold of the ultimate Lifeguard!!

With this being February, the month of love, please reach out to someone that you feel needs someone to uplift them.  Or if you are the one that needs uplifting, please reach out and tell someone that you need them.  Never suffer alone, sometimes just having someone sit silently with you and hold your hand is all you need at that moment.  Remember you can always reach out to me, even if you just need a special prayer.  I always pray for all of you, you are never far from my thoughts.  I know exactly your pain and struggles, and so does God!!

Lord, I pray for all of these special women and their amazing families.  I pray for comfort and strength in their journey.  I pray they reach out to You Lord.  Thank you for always being by our side and showering us with Your love and grace. In Your Precious Name I pray Amen.