Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

I do not think Frank Capra knew at the time he directed this movie what a timeless piece it would become. This creative piece would become a love story to men, woman, and children reminding them how significative they are in the overall scheme of things. 

When this movie was released in 1947, our nation was in the throes of World war two and beginning to bounce back from the great depression. Men and woman were losing hope, quicker than a jackrabbit could hop, when the timely release of this movie served to remind them that God loves them no matter what happens in this life to scar them.

'It's a wonderful life' was our families favorite Christmas tradition. Every year we would sit in our downstairs family room watching this classic while eating a Pa Pa Murphy's pizza- mom and dad on the outside with our two kids in the middle.We loved this movie because it lifted our spirits and taught us the unique importance of our lives to others around us. 

Like two snowflakes, no two people are the same.

So in honor the release of this movie 71 years ago I decided to write about it in my blog.

Like George Bailey, each of us from time to time feels like we're failures. The film opens up with many of George's friends praying for him.

 George had just left Mr. Potters bank as Mr. Potter began calling the police to report his building and loan's embezzling. George, in a state of panic, drove his car toward the river hitting a tree in the process. It was Christmas, a time when most should be filled with joy.

 Meanwhile, his friends prayed.

Mr. Emil Gower: I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.
Giuseppe Martini: Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend, Mr. Bailey.
Ma Bailey: Help my son, George, tonight.
Bert: He never thinks about himself, God, that's why he's in trouble.
Ernie Bishop: George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.
Mary: I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.
Janie Bailey: Please, God, something's the matter with Daddy.
Zuzu Bailey: Please bring Daddy back.

God heard their prayers and decided to send Clarence to earth to become George's guardian angel on the account that he hadn't yet earned his wings.

Senior Angel: A man down on Earth needs our help.

Clarence: Splendid. Is he sick?

Senior Angel: No, worse. He's discouraged.

Clarence arrives just in time to save George from taking his life by jumping in the river after him.  The next scene is in the drawbridge building where Clarence and George are drying their wet clothes Clarence is trying to figure out a way of helping George when George uttered, " I wished I had never been born"  Like that Clarence grants him his wish.

George Bailey: Look, who are you? Who are you really?
Clarence: I told you, George. I'm your guardian angel.
George Bailey: Yeah, well what else are you? Are you a hypnotist?
Clarence: No, of course not.
George Bailey: Then why am I seeing all these strange things?
Clarence: Don't you understand, George? It's because you were never born.
George Bailey: Well, if I was never born... who am I?
Clarence: You're nobody. You have no identity.
George Bailey: What do you mean no identity? My name is George Bailey!
Clarence: There is no George Bailey.
[George searches his pockets for identification, finds none]
Clarence: You have no papers, no cards, no driver's license, no 4F card, no insurance policy.
[George finally searches his watch pocket for the rose petals from Zuzu]
Clarence: They're not there either.
George Bailey: What?
Clarence: Zuzu's petals... You've been given a great gift, George: A chance to see what the world would be like without you. 

George discovers he could hear out of both ears, something he couldn't do since he was a kid when he caught a nasty cold after saving his kid brother Harry from drowning.

The first thing George sees is the tree his car supposedly ran into.  The burly homeowner came out and sniffed George trying to figure out if he was drunk. George asked about Bailey Park of which the man said this is Pottersville, don't you think I know where I live?

George runs to where Martini's place is and encounters Nick's, not Martini's the place he remembered.

Clarence and George are trying to decide what to order. Clarence orders a 'Shirley Temple'.

Nick: [slamming a bottle on the bar] That's it! Out you, two pixies go... through the door, or out the window!
George Bailey: Hold on, Nick! What's wrong?
Nick: That's another thing. Where do you come off calling me Nick?
George Bailey: Well... Nick, that's your name. Isn't it?
Nick: What does that have to do with anything? I don't know you from Adam's off Ox.

George has discovered his brother Harry's tombstone]

Clarence: [explaining] Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine.
George Bailey: That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport!
Clarence: Every man on that transport died. Harry wasn't there to save them, because you weren't there to save Harry.

Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?

You see George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away?

Clarence: You've been given a great gift, George: A chance to see what the world would be like without you.

George wants to know what happened to his wife.

George Bailey: Clarence?

Clarence: Yes, George?
George Bailey: Where's Mary? If this is all real and I was never born, what became of Mary?
Clarence: [hesitates] Well... I don't... I can't...
George Bailey: [grabs Clarence by his collar] Look, I don't know how you know these things, but if you know where my wife is, you'll tell me.
Clarence: I... I'm not supposed to tell.
George Bailey: Please, Clarence, where's my wife? Tell me where my wife is.
Clarence: You're not going to like it, George.
George Bailey: Where is she? What happened to her?

Clarence: She became an old maid. She never married...
George Bailey: [desperate] Where is she? WHERE IS SHE?
Clarence: She's... she's just about to close up the library!
[George throws Clarence to the ground and runs off]

Clarence: [more frustrated] Ohh... there must be some easier way for me to get my wings.

George arrives at the library right at closing time and saw Mary who was frightened by this stranger making references to her being his wife. She faints drawing others from the town to her rescue.  George breaks away from the group and runs toward the river as gunshots followed him. 

[George returns to the bridge where his nightmare began, hoping to bring back his old life]

George Bailey: [praying] Clarence! Clarence! Help me, Clarence! Get me back! Get me back, I don't care what happens to me! Get me back to my wife and kids! Help me, Clarence, please! Please! I wanna live again. I wanna live again. Please, God, let me live again.

[it begins to snow again]
Bert: [shouts] Hey, George! George! You all right? Hey, what's the matter?
George Bailey: Now get outta here, Bert, or I'll hit you again! Get outta here!
Bert: What the sam hill you yellin' for, George?
George Bailey: You...

[suddenly stunned]

George Bailey: George... Bert? Do you know me?

Bert: Know you? Huh. You kiddin'? I've been looking all over town trying to find you. I saw your car plowed into that tree down there and I thought maybe you - hey, your mouth's bleeding. Are you sure you're all right?

George Bailey: What the...
[licks the corner of his lip and checks his mouth with his hand]
George Bailey: Ha, ha, ha, ha! My mouth's bleeding, Bert! My mouth's bleeding! Zuzu's petals... Zuzu...
George Bailey: [checking his pocket] There they are! Bert, what do you know about that! Merry Christmas!

 George returns to his home to the hugs and kisses from his family as the room began filling up with townspeople wanting to help. The financial investigator was there to finish his audit so he could go home to his family.

In the final scene, the friends he had helped through the years of running the Bailey building and loan all showed up to give money to pay the debt caused when Mr. Potter embezzled the day's deposits Uncle Billy brought from the Building and loan.

The scene becomes a festive occasion when they could see that Goerge Bailey is back with his family and to them where he belongs.  A few moments later, Harry Bailey enters the room to the delight of his brother George.

Little Harry Bailey: "To my big brother George, the richest man in town!"  The accountant begins counting the cash being brought in by the people while singing Christmas carols with the others. Harry Bailey was referencing the friends George has in his life.

Zuzu Bailey: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.' 

The message behind this movie, I believe, is the power of prayer in our lives. God wants you to have a conversation with him, to tell Him your struggles, your concerns, what you should do, the choices to make, and when life get's dark to help guide you through that rough patch.

 The reality is that God loved you so much that He sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you. So, no matter what happens to you in this life, God promises to be there for you.  Experience God for yourself by pulling out the timeless treasure called the Bible and begin reading God's love story to you.

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14

Though the news media chooses to highlight the worse of life and wants us to see the chaos to distract us from God, our hope is restored by simply hearing the prayers and the praises from children.

 When we listen to the chorus of children's voices lifting their voices high to the Lord, our hope returns.  Their singing brings smiles to our faces, tears to our eyes and open up our hearts to the Lord.

 We have a good friend who heard the calling from the Lord and left her public school music position to devote her life to training tomorrow's children to be future worship leaders.  She has done this for many years and the fruits of her labors are beginning to be realized. Whereas our own son is grown, we witnessed a new group of children leading worship under her direction on a recent Sunday. It bought gentle tears to my eyes.

Children have a way of bringing out the best in grown-ups and restores their hope through their prayers.  I believe it warms God's heart to hear the prayers of our children. 

Which is why in the midst of all this chaos it is so important to find a Church that loves the Lord Jesus Christ and begin attending every week- for it is in the heart of worship we find the heart of God.

Yes, there truly is beauty in this world!

Finding Hope when we're hurting

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:17

This life can bring heartaches and emotional scars that seems to penetrate deep within our souls. As tears stream down our faces, we wonder if this pain would ever end. For any of us who have ever lost a loved one, you know what I mean. 

We hurt so bad that we just need to have a stiff drink of something hoping our pain would be erased. We try to solve the problem ourselves without realizing that more pain will result from those misguided decisions.

As I read those words from Revelation 7:17, I'm reminded that Jesus would be our shepherd and he will lead us to springs of living water, and better yet, He will wipe every tear from our eyes.

Jesus, the master comforter to those who are afflicted. To those with so many emotional wounds, Jesus promises to heal us. He promises to bring us through the painful journey of grief and help us to one day smile and laugh again while helping you to retain the memory of the one you lost.

Jesus is the lamb of God and our living king. The greatest miracle was when Jesus rose again from the dead, forever canceling out our sin, and taking his rightful place on the throne of heaven.

He is the living King. Through the power of the holy spirit given to us, he speaks to us words of wisdom to guide us in our daily responsibilities.

He walks with us and he talks to us. All you have to do is cry out to Jesus with your pain and He will be your guide in this troublesome life.

God wants to be your Savior. Cry out to Jesus confessing your sin's and acknowledging that there is nothing you can personally do to reach Him. Instead of us reaching up to God, Jesus reaches down to us to rescue us.

Then, ask Jesus to come into your heart, to reign on the throne of your heart, to be your savior and guide you in this life.

And, one day Jesus will wipe away the tears from your eyes and help you to recover from your pain.

You are loved by the loving God who created you and made you for a purpose.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

I have always been a history buff.  I love asking questions to those who were there at the time of historic events. I did this with the lady who opened the Mount Saint Helen's hotel one year before the Mount Saint Helen's disaster and learned that this area was a huge draw for many Castle Rock families. I also learned that she knew many of the people who perished that morning.

As I read through the history, I learned in the case of Mount Saint Helens, it was the governor of the state of Washington who essentially blamed the death toll on the victims who were there illegally before the eruption.

 In the case of one family, the father called the Forestry service and was given no indication that it was too dangerous for him to take his two young son's camping at the base of the mountain. Their deaths were confirmed when authorities discovered their 11 year-old-son in the back of the families pick-up covered in ash.  His 37-year-old widow's daughter was taunted at her school about her dad putting his son's in harm's way.

The reason for this post is so often we tell the families to move on in life while forgetting their loved one, while the same time become careful not to mention their loved one's name as if it would only conjure up 'bad' memories everyone else would just assume 'forget'; yet, in doing so we deny the person ever lived or the valuable contributions they gave their family while alive.

Families who have lost loved ones need to hear their loved one's name and the stories of others regarding them- for it is in those stories that their healing begins.

In honor of Mount Saint Helen's, I want to pay tribute to the following people who perished from what is now considered the greatest natural disaster in this country's history. Each individual on this list had a life and a family who loved them.

If you have lost a loved one, please remember it is okay to use their name and share the stories long buried in the back of your mind with those willing to sit down and listen to them. You may not realize by doing so, you may be helping others heal from the same loss you are struggling to cope with.

There is healing that comes with sharing your stories.

There were 57 people who died in the natural disaster known as Mount Saint Helens. Here is a list of those who died in this disaster.https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/148450?page=1#sr-28488466  ( Mount Saint Helen's list of those who perished simply doing what they wanted to do, but enjoy the natural beauty of Spirit Lake.

Before and after Mount Saint Helens- our recent trip to Washington state and the stories we learned.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Sunday morning, May 18, 1980,  8:30 am Mount Saint Helens blew. Total casualties were 57 dead. Spirit Lake in the shadows of Mount Saint Helens was the sight of many camping experiences of Boy and Girl's scouts and countless campers and hikers. It was home to resorts, a place where many came from afar to enjoy all of the beauty Spirit Lake had to offer.  To see the devastation of this area was distressing, especially after hearing the stories of those who perished. Some didn't want to leave this area thinking that the warnings were false. 

After a half day of hiking in this still devastated area, now a memorial to the dangers of volcanoes, we had dinner in Castle Rock, Washington.  As my wife went in to place our name in for a booth, I walked over to the Mount Saint Helens motel to see if there were any rooms at the inn. The lady who worked at the front desk was an older woman I learned opened the motel one year before the volcanic eruption. I learned through the art of questioning that her family, as well as others in the area, often frequented the Spirit Lake and all of its beauty on a regular basis. It was home to a YMCA day camp and frequent camping trips of the boys and girl scouts. Sadly, she remembers long gone friends who perished in the eruption.

Life, it seems, involves taking risks that for some results in death. It seems cruel to have to suffer through the grief process each time someone we know dies and those emotions were not accustomed to bubble up from within causing us to feel we are in the land of grieving, not the land of happiness that we would rather be. Perhaps there is grace in the art recovering from grief- the hug from a friend, the kind words of support from a stranger you do not know, or those sweet dreams you think you heard the comforting words of the Lord reminding you that he is walking with you through the shadow of death.

When grief hits us, often it is God's opportunity to draw near to you and you to him. In a perfect world, there would no death, nor sadness, nor sudden pangs of emotions. However, the world we live in an imperfect world filled with sudden losses. The good news is that God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to dwell among us, to walk with us in those sad moments we face in this life and to remind each of us that He alone conquered death on the cross and we will see our loved ones again.

While your loved one may be forever gone from this earth, you still have a mission to fulfill in life- a mission to allow God to use your story to lead others to the His saving grace. You have a story to share with the world around you.

 So let the Lord build your foundation of which your story can be told and watch him bring others to the free gift of salvation. Your life is still worth living even in the face of profound grief.

If only the world around us could discover the hope that resides in us because of what Jesus Christ personally did for us?

Do you not know?Have you not heard?The Lord is the everlasting God,the Creator of the ends of the earth.He will not grow tired or weary,and his understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28

Sigh......... What is happening to our world we live in? It seems that every day I look in the paper, I read about someone else taking their life. The heaviness of hearts is everywhere. Hopelessness seems to prevail every way I turn.  We look to our political figures in full anticipation they will restore our hope, but even they disappoint us! They all grow tired and weary just like the rest of us. 

Sigh........ What is happening to our planet we live in? Should we not be surprised that this is the outcome when we're told that the religious teachings of old are irrelevant and not practical for the modern age?  Meanwhile, people without any hope are taking their own lives because they have swallowed the humanistic thinking that God is dead and no longer relevant to their own lives? 

Sigh, if only people who believe are able to openly share the things that God has done in their lives?  If only they can share that in the deepest of valleys God picked them up and walked with them on their journey of pain? If only they could tell their story of the hope that was restored because of what Jesus Christ did for them personally the night he died on the cross for them? If only they could hear your personal story of when Jesus came into your life?

If only they knew.........

My God is real. My God picked me up in the worse of times. My God spoke in whispers words of comfort that soothed my soul during times of stress and times of delight. He is there for me.

If only the world around us could discover the hope that we have? Might there be fewer suicides, drug overdoses? Might more people be engaged in the world around them by preparing for tomorrow's jobs instead of looking for their next drug high? Might there be more people out in the streets enjoying life rather than in treatment centers and our jails?

If only they knew..........................................

Yes, there is power in forgiveness and yes, it can set you on a healthier path in this life.

At that point, Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”

22 Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-35

Back to the future, a movie about a teenage time traveler who goes back in time when his parents first met who almost didn't become a couple when he accidentally crossed paths with his teenage 'mom's who sheepishly fell in love with her future 'unborn' son while crooning his name, Calvin Klein. Each time he came back to the present, he discovered something eerily went wrong with his family. He knew he had to go back to 'fix' the problem.

It took several 'Back to the Future' movies before he was able to fix his otherwise dysfunctional family.

For most of us, the thought of traveling back into time to have to talk with one's great-grandfather regarding the dangers of drinking alcohol, or traveling back to when your father was a teenager and listening to his pain from the loss of his sister is literally impossible. 

While we wish we could undo the damage trauma brings to our family tree, we cannot.

But there is someone who can.  When God sent his son to earth it was his intent to tell you how much he loves you.  When Jesus took his final breath on the cross, he looked up and exclaimed 'It is finished', as though He were telling the world that 'my blood' is sufficient for you and you are forgiven.

To those who create little monuments devoted to their 'gods', he gave us the Gospels to point us the way to life and happiness. Instead of gods who are dead, he reminded you that Jesus is very much alive and walks and talks with you.

To those who chose to make daily rituals as a way of finding God, he appears in their dreams providing powerful images that bring people to Jesus and lets them know that those rituals are no longer necessary to have a relationship with God.

To those who struggle with PTSD, nightmares, and the inability to sleep God reminds you that He truly understands your pain and wants you to pray instead of worrying and becoming increasingly consumed by anxiety and worry.

To those who use drugs and alcohol to escape the pain, he reminds us that He alone will heal your pain.

To anyone struggling with social anxiety, he reminds us that give you the confidence to be around people.

I've read enough articles to know that so much of our health problems are the result of the stress that comes out of our inability to forgive. In many families, this unresolved grief can go back several generations with the transference to future unsuspecting generations as though those members were hit by the 'proverbial' bus wondering where that came from.

Most of you who have been reading these blogs know that our family lost a daughter after what was supposed to have been routine surgery.  At the beginning of my grief, I was angry with God, with the medical system and with anyone else who steered us toward our calamity.  

But what you do not know, my journey ultimately lead me to Cross of Christ where I heard the gentle whisper of God reminding me 'my grace is sufficient for the pain you endured when your daughter died. 

My road to forgiveness began in the office of the Jewish attorney who took me aside and reminded me that they could find nothing the doctor might have done differently to reverse to the tide of events. He encouraged me to do what he and his wife did after the loss of their daughter and do things in this life to honor her legacy. 

Quite literally, his words set me on a different trajectory timeline than the one I was presently on.

Not long after that conversation, I wrote a letter of 'forgiveness' to my daughter's doctor and mailed it to him.  Not long after, his office called me to say that the doctor was truly blessed by our families letter and wanted to meet with us.

The moment we met with him was in all fairness the most touching time we ever had with a medical professional.  All of us were passing the Kleenex box to dry up the occasional tears as we reminisce the events of this journey. While I estimated we would only meet for 10-15 minutes, our meeting went for at least an hour. It seems none of us wanted this gathering to end. We reminded him that the next time Maria sees him she would thank him for his service of helping children with special needs.

We may never know the impact this 'forgiveness' meeting has on Maria's doctor or to any of my future family until we get to heaven, but I do know that my faith placed me on a more solid ground instead of the slippery sand that grief can resemble. 

To my future generation's, I want you to know that Jesus will be there to comfort you when losses come, and when they do, the best thing any one of us can ever do is to draw near to God while placing one foot in front of the other and keep on going to Church regardless of how you may feel from moment to moment.

What I didn't know at the time I accepted Jesus into my heart in that little Christian coffee house it became the moment Jesus began building my firm foundation of which not even the loss of my future daughter could shake.

Yes, there is power in forgiveness and it can set your future generation on a better path.

Jesus does his greatest work through those who have weathered the storm His Grace is sufficient for you.

I agree with this writer. Case in point.  Shortly after we lost our daughter in 2007, my boss who had been down that same path decades before was able to use his story to give me hope. Transparency is important- whether it is facilitating a grief share group, or supporting an employee experiencing sudden loss. This article was written by Journey of Hope and certainly well worth the read.


As a leader, you may be reluctant to show any kind of weakness to your congregation. You may see your role to be a model of faith and victory for the congregation—and you’re concerned that if what you teach doesn’t work for you, how will it work for them?
But this is not the way the apostle Paul approached his preaching ministry. He brought it all to the table—because God told him to view his shortcomings as the platform where His power is demonstrated.                              

“‘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.That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses . . . 
For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

You may be on a dark journey, unable to see beyond the next curve ahead, not knowing where this road will end. One of your loved ones may be battling a diagnosis of cancer or another disease. Or perhaps one day in the future you will face an unexpected health challenge. God will use your weakness to bring strength to others.
Your congregation needs to hear the Word of God, of course, but they will also benefit from seeing how you bring your faith into the hard seasons in your own life. You face the same issues that they do. Someone out there in the pews needs to see how a believer—a believer like you—handles something challenging like a cancer diagnosis. They need good examples. Their faith needs to see your faith. If you’re walking into the valley of the shadow of death, then they need to hear your story.

Your Story Can Bring Life

If even a few members of your congregation learn from your journey and become proactive about their own health, you have served them well. If your people change their eating habits for the better—adding nutritious and healthy foods and dropping harmful “junk” foods—you may be protecting them from their own cancer journey. If your people begin visiting their doctors and are screened as appropriate for common cancers, you may be literally saving their lives.

Your Story Can Bring Peace

When some people hear the “C” word, they experience fear. Maybe they’re worried about some symptom in their bodies, maybe they’re worried by their family history, or maybe they’re just worried. Your words may break the power of fear in their lives. They will discover that knowledge can be a good thing—and that it’s better to know than not know. With understanding comes peace. And your story may encourage them to get more information about their own health because with cancer it’s always better to know sooner and not later.

Your Story Can Bring Light

Many people don’t know very much about cancer—except that it’s a terrible disease and sometimes people die. They don’t understand that certain behaviors can trigger or accelerate cancer and that other behaviors can help prevent cancer. They don’t realize that there are different kinds of cancer. They may be unaware of all the advances that modern medicine has made to effectively battle cancer. But as you tell your story, you will pull back the veil for them and illuminate their darkness. As Jesus reminds us, “Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.” (John 12:35).

Your Story Can Bring Freedom

If you talk about your story, your people will feel free to talk about their stories. They will share their concerns and fears. Instead of awkward or embarrassed silence, they will encourage one another and urge each other to take better care of themselves. They will support and show love to one another. They will minister to those battling cancer and stand with their caregivers. They will deepen their connection to one another as a loving and caring community of faith.

Your Story Can Bring Hope

Your congregation needs to know that a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. People have recovered from every stage of every kind of cancer. There are new discoveries and medical breakthroughs all the time, and cancer researchers around the world are continually developing and refining new treatments.

You may be on a health journey of your own these days. Or you may be walking with a loved one down a dark and unknown path. Whether your battle is with cancer or some other disease, or against any of life’s tribulations, your experience can be used to express your faith and hope in God. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

God will use your story to strengthen, encourage and comfort those around you as they face struggles of their own. As we share our journey with others, we know that God will use every opportunity we give Him to bring His light into every dark place.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 
who comforts us in all our troubles, 
so that we can comfort those in any trouble 
with the comfort, we ourselves receive from God.”

 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Our Journey of Hope is sponsored by Cancer Treatment Centers of America^®

Our Journey of Hope is sponsored by Cancer Treatment Centers of America^®

Learn More About Our Journey of Hope

Despite this pain from this world, it is well with my soul

he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

My favorite day,

rising on the Sabbath to

sit at your footstool to praise your name

despite feeling pain and despair,

missing those who left me way too soon,

loved ones,

I thought would be there for me

to celebrate life's special moments

birthdays and other special holidays

who

in the blink of an eye

left me so soon

I've reminded by the tragedy

that you, oh Lord, walk with me every painful step

of this journey

through this pain,

you're making me more like Jesus

one teardrop at a time

Which is why my favorite day is worshipping you

on the Sabbath day

to be plugged into the power of your

holy spirit

to be filled with Your strength

a strength the world lacks

You, alone, give me the hope to live each day!

to shine this hope to others around me

no matter what happens in this life

You

are there for them

to walk with them each painful step of this

journey!

Remember, as much as things change in the world we live in, Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow!

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

I have to admit something.  When I opened up the online newspaper and saw that Sear's was announcing the closing of 75 more stores, I felt my heart sink. This particular closure comes on the heels of the liquidation of our beloved Herberger's clothing chain.

 As we lose our identity to the stores we grew up with, the grief can be as debilitating as if we lost someone dear to us. In a sense we have because all of us have memories of shopping experiences with mom and dad to these cherished chain stores.  Whether it was going with dad to the nearby Sear's store to buy the latest Craftsman lawnmower, or going with mom to JC Penney's to buy clothes, shopping became our ritual that kept our family together.

Hearing about these closures can add another layer of grief on top of our other losses. Many of us, I'm sure, have memories of going shopping with those who are no longer among us and having lunch at the food court. 

If you're old enough to remember when many department stores had the sit-down restaurants, you may have memories of sitting across from mom and dad with the big menu in your hand trying to decide what to order. 

As we lose these cherished stores, our hearts sank with a few droplets of tears flowing down our cheeks, remembering those times we took our children to these places with their demands of wanting to go their favorite toy or electronic store.  We remember their nuances whenever we took them shopping, and when our kids have children we try to replicate those experiences by going shopping with them to those same cherished stores.

Sigh...... nothing stays the same.  Though, life as we know it changes, life still goes on. Though we no longer have the K-Marts, Herberger's and many other stores, or the shopping malls,  we must remember that shopping will evolve into new traditions.

In a sense, part of the healing process from our grief is creating a new normal for ourselves. We do this by saying goodbye to the stores we cherished while welcoming new smaller stores who will one day enter into the marketplace to provide the goods and services the others no longer provide.

 In a sense, we're re-inventing the wheel of commerce and our cherished way of life anticipating the creation of new shopping experiences we can enjoy with those we loved.

As much as Amazon has fulfilled the shopping experiences of many, it can never replicate the experience of going to the retail store where we can touch and feel the item we're thinking of buying. It can never replicate the bonding experience of shopping with our loved ones. Shopping continues to be a social experience for all of us because we are social beings- we need to be around others as we fill our shopping cart with the items we need.

Alas, it's okay to grieve for those stores of yesteryear. Cry for all those times you shopped with your deceased child, mom, dad and other close relatives no longer among you.

 As you do, know that life will go on as new stores enter the mainstream to fulfill the emotional bonding that shopping brings to a new generation of American's.

We may never see the likes of K-Mart, Sear's, Herberger's again, but there will be new names that we will one day grow to love equally more!

As we read more about other store closings, I rest on the reality that the Jesus I claimed as my Savior in the Spring of 1974 is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!!