Thankful

Thankful carries a different weight this November.

On Friday, I spent the day with my dear friend, Amber, who two weeks ago today lost her sweet sister, Amanda, in one of the darkest, most senseless acts imaginable. And the nation watched in awe—even disbelief—as Amanda’s husband and family members proclaimed the goodness of God in the midst of such evil and spoke of their unshakeable hope in the One who turns tragedy into triumph.

I sat with Amber as she remembered with joy those 28 precious years with her baby sis. Amber and Amanda were as close as any two sisters I’ve known—dating (and marrying) best friends, walking down the same wedding aisle on either side of their dad, supporting each other through marathons and college graduation and pregnancy and childbirth, sharing all of life’s biggest moments side by side—which makes this loss all the more devastating. Having two sisters of my own, I cannot even imagine.

All sisters share a special bond, but few share their wedding day.

In Amber’s bathroom I noticed a sign, “There is always, ALWAYS something to be thankful for.”

Always??

This November, the world seems exceptionally dark.

Death. Evil. Sin.

More death. More evil. More sin.

And yet, here stand the Byars and Blackburn families in the midst of this nightmare, choosing to be thankful. Thankful for a God who turns tragedy into triumph. Thankful for 28 sweet years with their sister, daughter, wife. Thankful for the unshakeable hope we have in Christ. Thankful this world is not our home, death is not the end, and the best is yet to come.

Wow. My “thankful list” falls pathetically short in comparison.

This November, the Light seems exceptionally bright.

Love. Forgiveness. Grace.

More love. More forgiveness. More grace.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

Jane, I pray that, in the midst of great darkness, you too will reflect the Light. I pray that you will know the unfailing goodness of God and the unshakeable hope we have in Christ. And I pray that no matter what lies ahead, you will always, always find something to be thankful for.