Im so excited...

I'm engaged!!!

Her crowning glory...

The Bible says that we should, as christians, bear each others burdens.

A few weeks ago my father said something that made me think. We were at dinner and all of the sudden he looked very sad and said, "don't turn around now, but look at the lady in the red shirt (or whatever she was wearing). I hate that. I hate that. It breaks my heart to see women losing there hair."

He was very desperately upset and showing such empathy to whay I thought was almost trivial. As time passed I relized how great he was in that moment. A woman's hair is her "crowing glory." Unfortunately, some women lose their hair as they age and to some, it really does bring pain and suffering. I love my father. What an example of Christ's love. Something so small, yet he saw how much it hurt her. Jesus always saw through peoples fake smiles and saw the pain and suffering that lay beneath.
As christians, we should too. Its part of being on the team.

My Nana (grandmother) had her birthday yesterday. I wasn't able to stay, but I stopped by to tell her happy birthday when my family took her out to eat. As I drove away, I realized how lonely life gets sometimes. How often do I forget that she once lived in a full house with her husband and children and their needs, wants, cares, and agendas where her life. Now the house is empty (almost...another story). Her husband has long been gone and her children have children of their own. How often do I care about her pain and suffering? Her loneliness? Her cares, worries, needs, and agenda? The Bible commands us to take care of the widows who are easily forgotten. How did I become the one who forgets?

How many people do I know who live in a broken home? How many have grown up in two homes, with two sets of brothers and sisters, two beds, and two diningroom tables? How many friends do I have who's homes are shattered becuase of disagreements of the smallest degree. Who's parents try but have "fallen out of love?" How many friends struggle with God's love because their families have forgotten its meaning? Why don't I remember them?

How many people my age, people I've grown up with and spent my life with are addicted to something? Who do I know that does NOT have a struggle with addictions of my generation. Sex, porn, internet and phone sex, drugs and alcohol. Why do I think about them and care for a moment and then get wrapped up in MY life, only to forget and cover up their problems and pain?

When will I walk in my Father's footsteps and care about the widows, the addicts, the broken and struggeling homes, the families of the young person who died, the woman who is losing her crowning glory?

When will I stop and remember my brother's and sisters?

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who struggles with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus