I am Blessed

"I am blessed, I am blessed. When I rise up in the morning, 'til I lay my head to rest. I feel You near me..."

As I was sitting in Brittany's church one Saturday morning a few weeks ago getting to listen in on their "band" practice, I was overwhelmed with joy and sadness at the same time.

I reflected back over the month of July. Two Sundays that month I was in a worship service where Morgan was singing and leading worship, using her talents for God's glory. Morgan and her new husband had just finished a mission trip to San Antonio where she was singing and he was preaching. Brittany was serving on staff at this church, and would be leading worship the next morning, singing and playing the guitar and keyboard (not both at the same time!).

I was moved to tears of sadness as I thought about how their dad should be here; how he would have loved to hear them and how very proud he would be of them. It made me sad for Britt & Mo that they don't get to see the joy that would be beaming across his face as he listened.

At the same time, I was filled with tears of joy that God was allowing me to be a part of seeing them use their talents for His glory. I remembered how I had been praying for them since they were born that their lives would always honor God. They had been serving God for a while now, but something struck a chord that morning. Maybe it was the realization that God had answered those prayers.

When Kyle was about 2 years old, he was in the backseat of the car singing "Deep and Wide". I remember being a proud mommy just beaming from ear to ear and feeling so happy inside to be listening to his sweet little voice sing about Jesus. I wondered if that's how our Abba Father (Daddy) feels when He hears His children singing praises to Him?

I couldn't help but think that, even though Britt & Mo couldn't see their earthly daddy smiling at them, their proud Heavenly Daddy was there beaming from ear to ear and, I imagine, feeling so happy inside just to be listening to His children's sweet voices and lives sing praises to Him!

It was a weird feeling that day to feel so much sadness yet to be filled with such joy at the very same time. I don't understand God's ways at times or why things happen as they do. But, as I contemplate "all the worst and all the best" in my life, I can truly say that I am blessed!