Daily Sufficient Grace

^"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

This morning when I woke up, I dreaded the day. My eyes hurt. My head ached. My soul cried. Bittersweet.  It was the first day without my youngest son - who has been a constant companion for so long.  When I woke up,  I was sad.  I didn't have alarms going off. I didn't have to give meds. I didn't get to sing "Good Morning, Shaun." It was too quiet. But as this day has gone on, I found myself more glad than sad.  This was hard for me to realize.. but it isn't because I don't desperately want Shaun to be with me. I do. But I am so glad he is free. Free of pain. Free of entrapment. His spirit so sharp yet his body so broken.  I miss him. I want him with every cell of my body. To hold him, kiss his sweet face. Oh, his face. His perfect lips. His sweet chin. The gleam in his eyes.  I loved him fiercely every moment of his life and continue to - and I realize that in loving him so much, I want the very, very best for my children.  Shaun has so long been in a broken body - and now he is able to run and laugh and play and dance with strength to match his Champion heart.  He is in the glorious presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That is where those who believe in and know Jesus long to be one day.  Philippians 3 tells me that "our "citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."  It is the grace of our loving Heavenly Father, who knows the loss of a child, that sustains me now - the hope He gives that I now cling to, knowing that this is not the end of the story for any of us. Do you know the end of your story?

It sucks to be left behind.  But our race is not finished. So we are here and we press on... one minute, one hour, one day at a time.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  Hebrews 12:1-3