Suffering Well

It was a Thursday night (this Thursday night one year ago), which means I was at the JV football game with Adda.  My parents were driving to the metroplex to spend the weekend with us and go to a football game. My Mom called first and told me what happened and asked me to get a hold of Lee (my brother).  I tried to call Lee but he didn't answer.  I called Andrea and told her what happened and that they were trying to get a hold of Lee to go to the hospital.  We got off the phone and then Lee called me back and said he was on his way to the hospital to be with Summer and Jeff.  One year ago a friend lost something!  One year ago a friend lost not just something, she lost her 6 month old baby girl!  How is that even a possibility?  Why should something like that even have happened?

Even though we can't seem to find the sense in things, as a Believer of Christ we can rest in the fact that He is the ONLY giver and taker of life!  I love that song that says, He gives and takes away!  I can think of so many instances that I have cried as I sang this song.   Never as a mother have I had to sing this and think about loosing my own baby!  Knowing He chooses when we leave this earth doesn't make the fact that Kelsie isn't here any easier for Summer or Jeff or anyone one else in their family!  It doesn't take away the sick, disgusting feeling Summer and Jeff have each day.  I am sure in this year there have been moments that Summer has been able to lay down, close her eyes, take a deep breath, and be still knowing He is in control.  But it doesn't go away!  It will never go away!  She opens her eyes and Kelsie is still not there!  She closes her eyes and Kelsie is still not there!  It's gut wrenching!  It sucks!  It's stupid!  It makes no sense!

When I hear the words "suffered well" I think of Jesus.  As He was hanging by three nails from a cross He suffered!  He suffered until He was dead!  All for us!   All so we could live!  Is it possible to "suffer well" as we walk through our mess of a life?  I know a few people who have.

One is my Granny, Mary Jo Lewis!   Not many people know all the details of what happened to her as a young girl.  There were some things she told and some things she didn't.  My brother is one person she told it all to.  I don't know that he will ever tell all the details.  Honestly, I don't need to know.   I know it wasn't good!   I know it damaged her greatly!  I know she dealt with the scars for the remainder of her life!  As a young girl she decided to turn to Christ, and turn she did!  This doesn't mean she washed it all away!  No, it was all there and it affected her greatly over the years.  She dug deep into a REAL relationship with Christ.  She knew that He was the only one who would be able to help her deal with the crap that happened to her.  She was not perfect by any means, but she loved Jesus with every inch of her being, and she made sure everyone around her knew how BIG He really was!  Grandad and Granny's front door was always open for anyone to come in and hear about Jesus and all he had done in their lives.  To me she suffered well!  To me I saw someone who didn't ask for the cards she was dealt but used it all to turn people to The One!

My brother is another person I think has suffered well!  Most of you know that he has Chrons disease.  He has had surgeries, taken many pills, and dealt with loads of pain since he was in 9th grade.  There have been so many times that Chrons has reared it's ugly head when he should have had no worries at all.  He has almost died because of Chrons!  Through all of his pain and suffering with this disease he dug down deep into Jesus!  Times when he was sick God showed him how small he really was, and how much he loves him.  He showed him how faithful, and sovereign, and mighty He really is!  God has used what Lee has gone through for His glory!  I know there were times when he was just plain pissed off at God.  He battled with him until God slowly molded him from a young sick boy trying to understand why God choose him, into a very wise Man of God who thanked Him for the pain he endured with his sickness.  He was thankful because it brought him closer to Jesus!  He is thankful God choose him!  He has suffered well!

Lastly, the mother I talked about earlier, Summer has and is suffering well!  She lost her baby!  One of the hardest things a mother could possibly go through!  Daily she digs deeper and deeper trying to get closer and closer to Jesus.  I watched her at the funeral weep over her baby laying right in front of her.  I cried as I looked down at my pregnant belly thinking what on earth she must have been feeling.  Summer writes a blog and I am absolutely amazed by the words she types!  I do not think (I pray I would) I could wade through the mess like she has!  Read it http://thebeaversjourney.blogspot.com!  You will sob, you will laugh a little, and you will be inspired by what God is doing in her soul!  You will be pushed to pray hard the way she does!  Pray for her today!  Sit back and think about Summer today and the next few days!  Pray for this mommy!  Pray for Jeff!  Pray for Dylan (her son)!  My heart hurts for the pain she has gone through, but at the same time I praise Jesus for the passions He has given her!  She is a new person!  Through her daughters death He changed her forever!  He is the ONLY one that can do such a thing!  If she had turned to anything/anyone else she would only have found more heartache!  Summer is suffering well!  I love you girl!  I am praying for you guys daily!