A Look Ahead

I've known for years that bad times often make us stronger, often lead us to good things, often turn out to be somehow in God's plan. I've learned this over the years as a minister but also as a human being, someone experiencing the full range of life. But here's a tricky thing: You can't tell this to hurting people. You can't look at someone in pain or in trauma or in the middle of a grief mess and tell them, "It's okay. You're going to learn some great lessons. And probably God has a plan."

I repeat: Do not say that to people.

What can you do? There is nothing to be done except to live in hard times with your friends, holding them close and walking through it with them. And indeed, on the other side of the pain, if things are learned you can talk about it then. Just not before.

High Calling Blogger Ann Voskamp sat with her sister during a long and difficult labor. Only after the birth could they talk about the pain. This is good stuff. Ann is a terrific writer. You're going to be glad you went to read it.

"I don't remember how many times stainless needles poked about her blue veins in attempt to drain in another IV bag. You lose count in a storm of hyperemesis gravidarum that pounds relentlessly, leaving one limp and hanging over a toilet bowl. The days, weeks, months of wooziness, churning smells, swirling green nausea, it all eroded away at joy.

But when a whisper of fingers wrapped close yesterday....

"Wasn't that worth every single day of it?" The words are soft. No one speaks loud on holy ground. I search my sister's eyes."... Read More.

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