Laura Story sings…”What if your blessing come through raindrops? What if you healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near? What if your trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”

Oh, this song has so many meanings within my heart! Throughout my life, I have had to deal with losing many loved ones. Loss, I thought was going to be a constant rotation throughout my life weeks at a time. There were many feelings that came along with this reality of loss. I made poor choices of how to deal with these feelings which are less than stellar to talk about. I grew and as I grow now, I understand more that, as CS Lewis put it, “Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties”.

The owl coffee cup, in the picture above, is a reminder of my aunt. She collected so many owls. I mean millions upon millions. One day I was window shopping and came across this beauty! I was in one of those “where do I go from here” moods. We didn’t have the money for me to spend on it, but I couldn’t just leave it there. I felt it was a “God wink” where my aunt was telling me to “let it be” of whatever was going on that was weighing on me. See, she didn’t have any children, so us, her nieces and nephews, were treated as if we were her own. Me being the oldest, I had about nine years alone with her before the youngsters were born. Yes, I was quite spoiled! Owls have become something I notice and cherish. This cup reminds me of my blessings and gives me great peace. What are your blessings you have collected over the years?

-Em

“He will be our peace.” -Micah 5:5