This is the culmination of a month full of thoughts…and the perfect song.
It seems that no matter where we are in life, whether up on the mountain or down in the valley, the circles of life are ever-changing. Completely thankful that our God never changes and that through the years, I have found the most amazing people whom I can call Blessings. I know that no matter where I am or where God has us, the miles are never further than a phone call or email…to cry and weep over the latest illnesses, to laugh ourselves silly over the latest child’s adventure, to plan our next outing, or to hear the latest prayers and praises.
A few weeks ago I heard Laura Story’s Blessings song. I have heard it several times, but the words leaped through the radio and pierced my heart like never before…I can’t recall what the reason was that day, but it overwhelmed me to tears to hear the chorus and bridge part…
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
A thousand sleepness nights are what it takes to know your near. When I visually think of a thousand nights my mind can’t comprehend losing that much sleep. It’s tiring and overwhelming! 
And then it reminded me of an email that a friend of mine sent a few years ago. Her story was devastating as her and her husband had just lost their child. She was about halfway through her pregnancy and they had just named him. In her email thanking everyone for the prayers and explaining what had happened, she said, through much sorrow and pain, that wouldn’t it all be worth it even if just to draw us closer to Him?
I was in awe of her words.
It was obvious they were grieving, but to have that much faith and trust in our God…wouldn’t every bit of pain and sorrow be worth it, knowing that God – Creator of this Universe…Creator of YOU and I…who cared so much to send His one and only Son to die for our sins – THAT GOD wanted us to draw close to HIM! Now, that’s just amazing. LIKE, REALLY AMAZING. LIKE, GET OUT OF YOUR CHAIR AND JUMP AND SCREAM UP AND DOWN, AMAZING!
That girl wrote that note about 5-6 years ago, and I have never forgotten her words. It was those words that catapulted a time in my life where great change took place. Learning how to view life through the eyes of my Lord were going to be an important part of learning to embrace and accept whatever He has in store for me and my family…even if it means all the things that song says…sleepless nights, trials, rain, storms, disappointments…and there have been a fair share of those.
Blessings come in all ways, shapes, and sizes….and often they come in packages you don’t expect. Here’s to recognizing all the blessings God is bestowing!
In Love – KAREN
