Love is always hopeful

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." - 1 Cor. 13:7

     This only my second post to this blog in a few months.  To my readers, I am very sorry about that.  Even a writer can have times of total displacement.   My friend's death was so incredibly difficult, it took a while for me to even discuss it with myself.  Before she passed we started working on a project together and it was a project that brought such hope to both of us.  We were excited about it and enthusiastic as to what the results would bring.  Although we fought very different battles, I believe it brought us both, equally through some hard days. 
     Then, she was gone.  Don't get me wrong, I have rejoiced for her a thousand times, I am grateful and confident that I know where she is and that one day I will get to see her again.  Oh, the stories she will have to tell me!  So on that plain, I am so excited for her!  I know she is dancing on streets of gold and learning everything she can from the angels.  I can just see the excitement in her eyes when she meets the angels of the bible she has heard so much about.  And I can't even imagine what it would feel like to rest in the arms of the one she has loved the most,  Jesus. 
    So, you see, it is not that I do not have faith in Heaven, because I am thoroughly looking foward to the day that I can see for myself all the glory that which no eyes have seen.  My children give me drive and help me focus on the road ahead.  My husband is a great companion and partner, but there is something about individual friendships that make them so incredibly special.    There are no ties, no dependencies.  There are no contracts or agreements.  At any given time, the season could be over and you could go your separate ways forever, yet for some reason, you do not.  What is the reason?  Love.  A love immersed and strengthened by common thread of the only one whose love is a perfect love.  When you have a friend who is in love with Christ it is much like being raised together in the same wonderful house.  Not a house of dysfunction and crazy memories that are too horrible to remember, but a house with a rich history and memories that you can share.  So, you see, in His infinite wisdom, that never fails to amaze me, he has thought of this also.  Bringing together the body of Christ brings forth family.  Perfect family.   We as humans are not perfect.  There will be times of hurt and people will make mistakes and they will be human.  I am not saying people who go to your church are not flawed, because we all are.  But when you find a friend free of your choosing and free of your friends choosing and you both have a love and desire to know Christ, it is just so incredibly extra special.  In this world of good and bad, of beauty and ugliness, of help and trouble, such friends bring with them hope.  Love gives hope.
     And when they leave your life, a piece of that hope, sometimes leaves with them. When I look at some of the files we put together, I let out a little sigh.  When I look at some projections and some planned trips, I sigh, again.
My sigh is an outward expression of my pain, but it is always followed by a reminder that she is so happy and out of pain.   Her daughter gave me one of my friend's keepsakes.  It is a little angel figurine who has her hand under her chin and gives the appearance she is listening intensely to a teaching.   That was exactly who my friend was when she was here.  She was an angel who listened intensely to every teaching she could get her hands on, so this little gift, was perfect for me.  Little did she know when she bought it, that it would be a remind me of  her light in my life.
     As I opened up my bible this morning, I am reminded of another friend that gave hope.  I am reading in the book of Esther and the decision has been made by the king's highest administrator to commit genocide among Esther's and Mordacai's people.   Mordacai is Esther's cousin, but they are also united by their faith and obedience to God.  Esther suggest at first that perhaps they should run and hide and Mordacai stays a steady inspiration to his friend and cousin.  Among other things he says to her "... And who knows but that you have come to the royal position for such a time as this?"  (Esther:4:14b)
     This hope, inspired Esther to try and save her people.  She was willing to prayerfully do everything she could to accomplish this save her people, that she was willing to risk her life. "...I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.  And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16 b)
     Mordacai could have saved himself.  He could have taken his family and fled for their lives.  I am sure the thought occured to him.  But he didn't.  He delivered hope to Esther.  He delivered Love to his friend, and "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."(1 Cor. 13:7)
     My friend, eventhough she has gone to be with our Lord, as she did while she was here, still delivers hope to me.  Her life and unconditional friendship and encouragement still encourages me and endures, through every circumstance, even her earthly death.   Today I will be re-opening our joint project and moving forward and be thankful that my friend, who is now living in God's presence, although I cannot see her, is still pulling for me and praying over me. Today, I will do my best to close the door as much as I can, from the pain of missing her and what lies behind, being grateful for all that I had, and look forward to what lies ahead.  I will be grateful for my pain, because after all, light cannot shine through a strong clay vase, unless there are cracks to let in the light in. 

- M.J.

Prayer Starter:

     Dear Lord Jesus,  thank you for this day.  Thank you for my friends and my family.  Thank you that your love is so incredible that it not only bonds us to you, but it also bonds together the Body of Christ in incredible ways. 
Please help me to take every single act of love and hope that you send me through the fellowship of my friends and family and know that all good things come from you. Thank you for the hope and inspiration that you provide through the fellowship of my family and friends.  Help me to rest in the transformation of your healing and peace.