Crystal's Birthday and Living Water

John 4:14

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, 

the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

It's Crystal's birthday.

She is 19 today.

She sent me a text.

 

She says she doesn't want to turn 19. 

She is 19 and he is forever 17. . .

I breathe in deep.

The pain sears my heart. 

This is hard. 

This hurts. 

It is one thing to deal with your own pain;

 but the effect on your children and their friends. . .and Crystal. . . rocks me. 

Elijah had a knack for making special occasions memorable. 

He was often last minute. . .

But he was still so thoughtful.

It is these things that drive us to our knees;

wondering how we will ever get through?

 So many years of memories.

So many dreams.

To be left behind is hard and strange.

Waters that are unknown. 

Where do we go from here?

The dreams have changed.

But hope hasn't.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

We have no other hope.

There is no other answer.

So Crystal, as hard as this day is. 

It is also wonderful.

It is the day you were born.

The day you were created for a reason and a purpose. . .

And that purpose is yet to be known.

We look forward to seeking God's plan for your life. 

We don't know why this happened.

And we don't know what the future would have held. 

So, while it is hard. . .

We wish you the happiest of birthdays, wrapped in all the love we can send. 

But more importantly wrapped in the knowledge that your journey is not over. 

(and a post full of the ellipses that Elijah so despised)

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, 

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.