"A soldier doesn't fight because he hates what is in front of him. A soldier fights because he loves what he left behind." - unknown

"God is our refuge and strength. He will protect us and make us strong" (ps 46:1). For those who will fly today, for those who are there now, and for those who will soon join the fight, Lord, shield them from all evil, strengthen their hearts, and bring them home safely.


Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Gift of Hope

My birthday was yesterday. 

I have never been one for birthdays. 

I love to celebrate others but for me, I never make a big hoopla. I don't dislike them, don't hold any negative stress over them, I just don't focus on my own very much. 

One year I even forgot it until it was mentioned to me. 

I am fortunate to have so many good friends who "gently" nudge me to celebrate anyway.

I know that makes me a special kind of special. 

I am quite awful at some dates, far too on point with others. 

One year ago today is the day I found out I was carrying Daisy. I realized it the day before - the evening of my birthday actually. Knowing how slim my chances were that it would make it to viable pregnancy, I waited until the next day to take the test. If I lost that child, if he or she would not make it to my arms, I didn't want my birthday to be the day I had found out. Morbid thinking, I know, but when you go through the roller coaster that is our roller coaster ... I didn't want yesterday to be that day. So I waited.

That positive result was and remains one of the most precious gifts I have ever received. 

Even with the loss that followed. 

A daisy that I didn't plant bloomed in my garden today. 

Something that I thought was a weed when it first started making its way out of the pine straw earlier this month, that I nearly ripped out of the ground to throw away, bloomed this day - the day she became a "possible".

One year ago today, for the first time in far too many, came the gift of hope.