Good morning, dear one,
It’s the beginning of a new week and my deepest prayer for you is that you find peace and contentment each day. And, in the mix, I pray that you find even a smidgen of joy. Sometimes, we have to look pretty hard to find the hope and blessings God promises. I know your stories about sadness, loneliness, and heartache. You may also be great at hiding your pain going about your day with a happy face while carrying a broken heart that makes breathing difficult.
I have been reading the story of Jane Marczweski, age 30, who performed on America’s God Talent. She had terminal cancer and was given a 2% chance of survival and six months to live. She knew many hardships including the end of her marriage just after her diagnosis. Yet, often times, out of such tragedies, come great wisdom and perspective. Here are a few of her quotes:
1. “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore until you decide to be happy.” I don’t know about you, but I’m still waiting for the day when life ceases to be difficult. Yet the reality is that we often experience trouble in this life. We may have different definitions of what it means to be happy, but we need to choose to find joy and good in our lives, today, even amidst the pain. Not after the pain stops. But right now.
2. “Just because someone leaves you doesn’t mean that love isn’t real.”
3. Some people can’t see God because they won’t look low enough.” “I remind myself that I’m praying to the God who let the Israelites stay lost for decades,” she wrote. Especially in the midst of suffering, God lives in the low of it. He is often right there and we need to open our eyes to him and ask God for help.
Nightbirde was a devout Christian who found hope in the midst of unimaginable suffering. She chose joy and continued to write music and perform. Life can present us with difficult circumstances; yet you and I can do hard and holy things. “Jesus is the lifter of our heads” (Psalm 3:3). Allow Him to give you a hope and a future.
Praying that you find encouragement from Nightbirde’s words, Linda