From Malden

I am writing this post, not from Klaipeda, Lithuania but from Malden, Massachusetts. Yes, I am home.

Everyone including me always says God will bring good out of a bad situation. You know, that is awesome and true, but it is a lot easier to see when you are not actually in a hard situation. But I decided to try and find some good. First, Papa is no longer in pain. He’s not suffering, hurt or sad. He does not have to live without his beloved wife any longer. So that is good. He is with Jesus now whom he loved so much. I know that he is glad to be with his Father. He got to be here for 88 years, so Jesus must be really happy to have him back.

But, what about me, what about everyone else that is left behind. What is good for us. To honest, I don’t know. We have amazing memories of Papa and for that I am grateful. But, even in those memories there is still some sadness. For now I’m holding onto the fact that “right now, in the good times and bad He is God alone” I am so thankful that I could be home. I know that’s God’s hand was totally in that and preparing my heart for what happened. As I was leaving on Saturday morning I saw a note outside my door. Jess had written it to me and wrote a verse on that bottom that was actually one of our staff verses last summer. “Whom have I in heaven but you and earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26 I don’t need to be strong, I don’t need to be well because God is the strength of my heart and I’m holding tight to that truth.