If Love Could Have Saved You...

I read on Facebook today “if love could have saved, you would have lived forever” and I thought, how true is that?  If the love could save those we love the most, we wouldn’t have to say good-bye and know the pain of losing someone.  If love was enough, my dad, my brother, Dylan and so many others would still be here.  If love was enough, I wouldn’t worry about saying good-bye to Kate.  Love can do so many things, but it cant prevent death. 

However, the love of our savior can save us!  It doesn’t stop us from leaving this place, leaving our bodies or leaving those we love, but it does allow us to see them again, in our new bodies, in place that has more joy, peace and fulfillment than this place we call earth.  This place, our bodies, etc. are temporary.  Yes it hurts, to say it lightly, when we have to say good-bye and it is hard to find our footing, but we have something to look forward to.  We have the knowledge and joy of knowing that one day we will be reunited with those we love. 

How exciting is that?  Think of all the things you have said good-bye to, which you will never see again.  Friendships that have ended, jobs that you have left, homes that you don’t live in anymore, etc.  Those good-byes are permanent and you had to adjust to a new normal.  Saying good-bye to your spouse, child, sibling, parent, etc. due to death may seem permanent, but there is hope in eternity.  There is hope is seeing those you love once again as you enter the gates of heaven.  Knowing this, I hope, brings you joy, peace and comfort.  I know it helps me deal with my grief.  Knowing that one day I will be reunited with those that have gone before me brings me peace, calmness, hope, joy, and eagerness. 

How can we be certain that we are going to heaven?  It is simple!  All you have to do is profess that Jesus is son of God, he came to save us from our sins, died on the cross and rose again and is seated in Heaven and ask him to come into your heart.  Simple!  You just have to believe.  You just need faith the size of mustard seed.  I wish all of life was this easy!  Life may not be easy but it so easy to believe in a compassionate, all knowing, wonderful God, who wants nothing but the best for you and wants you to spend eternity with Him.

So, next time I read, “if love could have saved you, you would have lived forever”, I wont think of those that we mourn, rather I will say, Love is Enough and it does Save us! 

Happy Birthday Lauren

She made me a mom.  She made me see the world through new eyes.  She made me rethink all the things I thought I knew.  She challenges me to be a better person; more compassionate and patient.  She allows me to be childlike and silly.  It’s so hard to believe that she is now 11.  How did this happen so fast?  After 11 years I am still amazed at the impact Lauren has had on my life. 

Lauren and I are a lot alike.  We look like each other, her mannerisms are similar to mine and how she processes situations and her emotions is similar to how I process them.  She is a mini-me, but so much better!!  She has so many qualities that I wish I had.  She is out-going, adventurous, and confident in who she is.  She is able to be silly and has an amazing sense of humor.  She can wake up in the morning, put on her camo hunting cloths and hangout in a tree stand, then come home and get all dressed up and do her hair and make-up (chapstick and clear mascara since shes only 11). 

I wish Lauren could see herself the way I see her.  She would see how brave, amazing, and lovely she is.  I know at times she feels like she blends into the wall because so much of our time is focused on Kate and her needs, but I hope she knows, without a doubt, how much we love her and how lucky we are to have her as our daughter.  I am forever thankful to God for allowing me to be Lauren’s mom. 

As we celebrated Laurens 11^th birthday this past weekend, I reflected on the past 11 years and the different stages of Lauren’s life.  It has been so much fun to watch her grown, develop her personality, and learn.  Lauren is all around amazing and I cant wait to see what the next 11 years (and more) bring.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

Hope is not Faith

Hope is not faith.  These words keep ringing in my ear.  My pastor said these words a few weeks ago and they stopped me in my tracks.  How many times have I said “I know Kate will be healed and I hope its on earth, not in heaven” or “am a realist, and know that Kate’s healing may not happen until she is in the arms of Jesus”?  How is it that I could say in one breath that I believed in Kate’s healing and the next say I hope for it?  Either I have faith or I have hope. 

When I heard those words, I knew that I needed to think about what I was saying when praying vs what I was saying in conversation or thinking.   Faith is believing what we cant see and while Kate doesn’t looked healed, I believe she will be.  Faith the size of a mustard seed is all I need and I have that!   Over the last few weeks I have been focused on my faith and truly believing, not just giving lip service.  I didn’t think that was what I was doing until I heard our pastor say hope is not faith.  It was then that I realized that I was saying one thing, and believing another thing.  I wasnt doubting God's ability, but wasnt placing all my trust in Him.  Why?  Maybe to protect my heart?  Maybe so I didn’t sound like a crazy person for being hyper religious?  Whatever the reason, my thinking and believing have been transformed. I am praying with the belief of healing.   

What are you praying for?  What are you believing God can and will do?  Whatever it is you are praying for, pray with the full confidence that God is capable.  Don’t doubt his abilities or desires. 

Matthew 14:31 NIV Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?

Matthew 17:20 NIV He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV We live by faith, not by sight.


ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
After I posted this another batten parent and I discussed the whether or not hope can be faith.  When I say discuss, I mean we shared a few thoughts on Facebook.  I wanted to include what I said about hope vs faith, because my thoughts may not have been as clear as I had hoped in the above blog.  

I agree hope can be faith but also think hope can diminish your faith. I know what I mean, but may struggle to explain it. I will give it a try - hope in something can mean you also have faith in it. However, sometimes, your hope may be a sign of lack of trust or confidence. When I was praying for healing but following it w "I hope God heals her" I wasn't showing faith. My hope took away from faith. Maybe it depends on the order of your thoughts or belief that makes the biggest difference? If your hope leads to faith, then your confidence in your request is solid but if your hope comes after faith, then you don't have a 100% confidence in what you desire or believe to be possible ? Hope that makes sense.