through the rough waves

a broken heart
a fractured bone
a car accident
a screaming baby
a hiccup
a house fire
a loss of a loved one
an ache
a hurt
a pain
a stressful night
a tear
an argument
an earthquake
a nightmare
a deep breath


when life gets a bit tough, when the waters rise and the drowning torment of negative surprise is overwhelming. the unforeseen, the unanticipated storms, the fiery darts wound too deep. my shield arises to protect, the narrow path- the tunnel of protection surrounds me as a hedge. i may be shaken and sifted, refined with fire but never destroyed.

gold is brilliant and precious

what if...

what if life was a fairy tale?
what if the happy ending wasn't too happy?
what if we never experienced sadness?
what if we never felt enraged?
what if we never traveled down dark hallways?
what if the princess didn't find the prince?
what if every day was a rainbow?
and we never journeyed through a storm?

then we would be in heaven....

let every moment build character
every experience draw us closer to the Friend, named Jesus
every tough thing, grow us, deep root us, not shake us....

coming from a heart bolting over traves and learning how to peregrinate one step at a time...

a grieving heart

Ecclesiastes 7:2
Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart.

How difficult is it to experience a house of mourning. As we experience the dichotemy of celebrating and mourning the passing of my grandfather, there is much that travels through the minds and hearts of those near to him.

There is deep reflection that occurs in a house of mourning. Our hearts reflect on the memory of the loved one, we grieve and try to support others that are mourning the loss. We reflect on the past, we live the reality of regret, wishing we would have done something different to hear the voice of that loved one again.

We ponder so much on the words and memories of the loved one that we will not see again until we ourselves face our time of passing. Truthfully, no one lives each moment as if it were their last. It is a very hard reality to put into practice...daily...

This famous quote captures the essence of living each moment to the fullest...

"Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth."



In memory of my Grandpa, Jidu, you will be extremely missed