Dear Elijah

I must confess, in the mornings when I wake. . . you're the first thing I think about.

Sometimes even before I give the day over to Lord; 

you're the first thing on my mind. 

Years of cultivating a habit of first thoughts to the Lord. . .now changed. 

Mostly the thoughts are combined.

Stepping into Praise before my feet hit the floor. 

Grief. 

Wrapped in a package with a bow that threatens to choke out my faith. 

A journey each day that takes effort. 

Much effort. 

A struggle. 

How do I praise the Lord when my heart hurts?

How do I live this life without you-Yet still needing to bring glory and honor to God's name? 

More importantly how do I give praise to the One that allowed you to die. 
Since before you were born. . . He knew this path. 
The pain I would live through. 
How do I give praise to the One who holds all in the palm of His hand? 

How do I yield my spirit each moment to be in the fold of the Almighty? 

The pain intense. 

The memories ever present. 

The need; to serve. 

To live under the grace of the Almighty. 

It is not mine to understand. 

God's ways are far beyond anything I can ever imagine.

Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Each breath I take, needs to be in humble submission. 

Casting all my cares on Him. 

I Peter 5:7

God's ways are far beyond anything I can ever imagine.

His plan is always better. 

His plan is good. 

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

My God will meet all my needs. 

He will meet them better than I know. 

And His plan, I can not see. 

My present sufferings are nothing compared with the Glory that awaits us in heaven. 

So Elijah, I am trying hard to live this life. 

I desire for God's name to be known. 

To live well. 

I miss you dearly and long to see you. 

All my love. 

Mom

I pray that you, the reader, know the joy of a life in Christ. 

That you know the peace of eternal life. 

We are all going to die. 

Some soon. 

Some not for a long time. 

But when I do, I will have a sweet reunion with my Savior. . . 

and my red headed, very missed boy. 

Romans 8:18

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.