Confession time: ⁣

For a few months after Jonathan’s passing, it was hard for me to see happy families, especially with little boys. ⁣

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I would think to myself, “They have no idea how lucky they are.” Then I would pray that they never have to experience this type of pain. ⁣

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The other day in a FB grief group, someone mentioned that they don’t even open Christmas cards because they can’t bear to see all the happy families, when they have suffered such a great loss. I could relate to journeying through this feeling but the Holy Spirit quickened this verse in my spirit,⁣

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“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15⁣

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Then I thought about all the pain and trials of people that have comforted me. ⁣

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- Years of infertility, treating my children as their own, while mourning in private. ⁣

- Losing their 3 month old baby, but never resenting Jonathan or our relationship. When their son would have been the same age. ⁣

- Suffering a miscarriage and comforting me through their often invisible pain. ⁣

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This is a very small list of a few pains that are part of a great abyss that we do not see on the surface of happy family pictures.

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But I was also reminded that the joy we do see in family pictures is a very small glimpse of the everlasting joy awaiting us all, when we meet our savior in eternity. ⁣

“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” John 16:22 ⁣

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All the beauty in our world, the love we share with family and strangers, the joy of a baby being born, the innocent happiness of children laughing and playing, the display of bravery, courage and selfless sacrifice...⁣

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17⁣

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I have started to pray a different prayer for those in a season of rejoicing and those in a season of mourning; that their joy may be made complete in the Lord. ⁣

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 ❤