conquered

This has NOT been an easy week! I have three dear friends who are on the roads of losing their precious fathers and I am convinced (along with my own very mild-form of caretaking this week!) that walking alongside those who are suffering is one of the most humbling, exhausting, taxing, selfless, Christ-dependent parts of life.

The work is largely unseen and thankless and cares not for schedules or needs or feelings. It is continual, and so dark to watch loved ones suffer that it is truly a place where EVERYONE must feel their insufficiency, not just those who are suffering. 

If the cause of death and disease and sickness and pain was worth sending His Son to die for...it MUST be more than we can handle ourselves, and it must be among the ugliest of things. Oh, if He hadn't conquered it--sin and sickness and death--how impossible this life would be! 

All I can cling to is that it is in suffering and walking alongside the suffering that we can most intimately, humbly and hungrily identify with Christ. Sickness and suffering makes us all either bitter, or like the woman who broke the costly perfume on Jesus's feet. Broken, humble, and abandoned to Him...a fragrant aroma. 

Matt led his two Thursday Bible studies yesterday and has been wiped and in pain all night...finally looking up a bit this afternoon! He's had a 4-day retreat scheduled for next week, and hopes to still be able to do that next week!! No rushing healing, is there!?

This weekend is full of precious many kiddos, visiting a friend who just had open-heart surgery, football games, youth group, Sofie's first ever horse show!, a precious bridal shower, and our two churches Sunday morning and Sunday evening. I am so thankful for such rich community...rejoicing, hurting, healing, hoping and holding on.