Marks One Year

Today marks one year….

This is draft three of this post, so let’s see if I can find the words to mark this occasion because so far in this past year I haven’t… Today marks one year since the doctor officially declared the lump in my dad’s chest was a malignant tumor. I have never found the words to write upon this event. There are no words that I can say that can do justice to how I have felt this year. Not only with the news we received that night, but that same night my friend’s father passed away. Then another friend’s mother passed away, a few months later and another friend has had two miscarriages. Which all in all really makes my issues seem so minuscule.

While there has been so much pain and suffering, I have seen joy. There have been marriages, new babies, new homes made, new jobs. There is growth, love, and hope all around the pain. Without the pain, how could we truly know grace, feel joy, and have compassion? How could we truly understand the utmost dependence we have upon God?

My emotions have been on a roller coaster. I can actually feel the change within me when I am in the word and in the Spirit rather than living in the flesh. There is a joy that is not of this world.

We can accomplish nothing apart from God and I know that more than ever—even though I need a little reminding every now and then (read: everyday). I know that God is good and He withholds no good thing, so I continue to trust in Him and place my hope in Him. And this has become my mantra. God is good. He is faithful. All of this has happened for a reason, a reason that will give God the glory for it all.

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

And to all those who have been praying for my dad, I ask that you continue to do so. Not only for him, but for my mom as well. She truly has had to be the strongest person through all of this. And I thank you all for all that you’ve done for my family, whether its just been a hug, a hello, a prayer, or a smile.

P.S. The above photo was taken this past summer while we were in Colorado. Isn’t my dad handsome?! I love how his hair has grown back in! Sorry Dad, but I do!

P.P.S. I found this on Pinterest yesterday and thought it would be appropriate here as well! As I didn’t get to say above (not in this draft anyway), the women who I mentioned earlier in this post are the most beautiful faithful women of God who have kept the faith throughout the pain, and I am proud to have them as friends.