Joy in the midst of sorrow......

The storms are past here for the time being....... What an unsettling time it has been the last few days. As a person who is very aware of my feelings and most generally the feelings of others, I can't help but be overwhelmed at this time. It is a strange mix of emotions..... I am so very happy my family, are safe and well, I feel blessed and awestruck at the power of nature. On the other hand, I am distracted, lost in endless thought about the tragedy that looms just down the highway. Not more than an hour away, so many families are hurting, are trying to make sense of a situation, that just doesn't make sense. I was even put on the spot the other day. Someone ask me why I thought that God let things like this happen? I was quick to answer, "because he wants us sometimes to take stock in our lives, to count our blessings. Because he wants us to think outside of ourselves, to help meet the needs of others. Sometimes he uses it to make us take a look at relationships, with family, friends, and most of all with him. He will use all things for his Glory. I don't understand it, I just believe it." Even though I DO believe it, I do with ALL my heart and soul. It doesn't take the away the sadness I feel, it doesn't take away the questions, or the shock. No, the only thing it does, is give me a place to go with all of it. I can't imagine not having a relationship with the Creator and Savior of the world during a time like this. It truly is what separates us from the rest of the world. HOPE.......... Knowing that the God who created us DOES have a plan, DOES love us, DOES hear us, and most importantly HE DOES want what is best for us. That is how we can have JOY in the midst of sorrow, HOPE in the face of Hopelessness. Yesterday as I walked out to the barn, grass still wet from ALL the rain and storms, I was lost in thought. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bloom on my peas, so exciting, then I realized the lettuce was twice the size it had been the day before. Then I noticed the green beans we huge and the broccoli had heads......the chicks had grown, and so had the grass....ugggg. Life had not stopped, the sun peeked through the clouds and I realized the SUN/SON still shines. I just had to remember, the JOY, the HOPE, the LOVE was still there, growing. I am still praying, I am still doing my part to help, maybe even more so, but I have JOY. That doesn't mean I am not going to shed a tear at a sad story, or feel heart sick over another tragic moment, what it does mean is I can share it with the Lord and do what he has called me to do in spite of it....... Have joy in the middle of the tragedy, and know that HE is still there.....and he ALWAYS will be........