Yesterday I wrote about the empty chairs around our tables by the passing of our loved ones but today as I cook and listen to music I hear the song Amazing Grace, my chains are gone. I suddenly burst into uncontrollable tears that just keep coming.

Our family is like most nowadays. We have had people that were a huge part of our lives go but those persons are not gone because of death but gone because that is the fate of our life sometimes.

We have a house right down the road from us that was built to house family and they were going to have the hot tub and we were going to have the swimming pool. We added an extra bit of pavement when we did our drive where a basketball goal stood because grandsons were going to live near by and be shooting all the time on that goal. None of that happened. It all busted apart and Satan smiled.

We have family in Texas and Oklahoma which seems worlds away sometimes and that is also how life happens.

We have had broken engagements, divorce, death, and just hard grudge worthy feelings. I know most of you have had that too.

We have grandchildren that we have to share with others every single part of the year. Weeks, Months, and Holidays always.

We have upsets, drama, tears, and pain but lots of laughter too because that is how we choose to live this chaotic life that was given to us.

Today as I cook my meal, and not only death separates me from persons that I love but also circumstances too, I ask God to let me Love Them Like Jesus and pray to remember the good and forget all of the bad so that I may rejoice in the life that I have and somewhere, somehow show His love to others that hurt just as much.

Thank you God for all the people that cross our paths but just for a season of time and for all the lessons that they teach us and how we as humans would love to hang onto them but we know that you are in control of it all and we just need to glean from the lesson that was meant for us to learn and press on and thank you for them.

We can preach all day long but the story that speaks the loudest is the one that we live and the realness that we portray.

Let us forgive the hurts, pray for the people that make us so sad, be willing to share the gifts of children or grandchildren that God gives us and most of all……..

LOVE THEM LIKE JESUS!