Comfort in the Storm -Paint Party Friday

This is a gift I have been working on.  It is for a precious Friend, a little sister--who's heart has been broken.  I feel so helpless...   There is nothing I can do, except to pray for her. 

The Psalmist wrote, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit."  This is my prayer for my sweet Friend and for all of you whose hearts have been broken.  That you would not feel abandoned.  So often when stricken with grief one feels so alone.  But we are not.  The Shepherd who loves us always lingers near. 

I love the Shepherd.  It is He who watches over me and my heart.  I have learned to trust the Shepherd with heartbreak--He is near to the brokenhearted.  He understands like no other.  "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." ~Matthew 5:4

Please click on the thumbnail to see the drawing closeup.  The thumb pic doesn't do it justice!  :D  Thank you for dropping by.  Your comments and sweet words mean so much to me.  Have a lovely weekend, dear ones!

Why?

This drawing was wrested from my broken heart two years after my Beloved flew away to heaven.  A little over two more years have passed since then and today is his birthday...

So many questions still remain--I am nearly overwhelmed with grief today.  Grief is complicated, there are so many mixed emotions... Yet there IS hope.  The Lord said it best, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  (Matthew 5:4)

God is good.  He IS our God of hope.  Paul writes, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

David the sweet singer of the Psalms wrote of his God, "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy."  (Psalm 30:11)

 He is also the one who penned these words of hope.  "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy." (Psalm 236:5)  

God understands grief and sorrow as no other.  Through the Prophet Isaiah God sent this beautiful message to those who love Him.  "To comfort all who mourn,  to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”  (Isaiah 61:3, 4)

Sadness and grief are not comfortable emotions--a lot of folks don't know what to do or say, when confronted with them.  And that's alright. When someone you love is grieving, all that's needed is your presence.  You don't even have to say anything.  You are a precious gift, because those who mourn often feel totally alone.  

For those of you, who's hearts have been broken, there is hope.  The Psalmist wrote, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."  (Psalm 34:18)  

We are not alone, dear ones and that is a comfort in itself.  May God bless your life with beauty and joy.  

Heart Breaking News

Heart breaking news.  Our dear Mumsie will be staying at the VA Hospital in Portland with Dad, until Daddy flies away to heaven.  I am so grateful to the Veteran's Hospital for their great kindness to Dad and to Mom as they share their last days together.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for our precious family during this time. 

His Smile -Guest Heart Thursday

I remember the first time I saw my husband.  I was sitting at a table (Clytie was there--do you remember, Sissy?) filled with friends at Sunshine Pizza Parlor.  He came in out of a rainstorm.  He wore a red plaid shirt and his cheeks were ruddy with the cold.  His clear blue eyes sparkled with humor.  He had gone to Seattle on his motorcycle.  He saw his roommate's car outside the restaurant and came in to greet his buddy.  He sat at the end of the table next to me.  I remember greeting him for the first time.  He had such attractive dimples when he smiled.

Alan says he fell in love with my smile the moment he saw me.  I thought he was kinda cute, but didn't think anymore about it.  He told me he knew right then he thought he'd found the girl of his dreams--and he wasn't going to look any further.  He worked hard to win my heart.  I have never regretted choosing this wonderful man as my Beloved husband.  We have had such an adventure together.  Good, bad, incredible, amazing, sad, happy, hilarious, sometimes difficult--but what a wonderful adventure. 

I'm still in shock.  Monday we learned that my beloved husband has cancer.  We go to the doctor's office on Monday to discover what our options are.  I do not know what the future will be, but I do know Who holds the future in His hands. My prayer is that our adventure will continue for many more years.

"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for good and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.'"  

Jeremiah 29:11-13  There are a few hearts hidden in this drawing, but also--as you read above, there is much about hearts in these words of hope, too--I am so grateful for God's heart of love for Alan and me as we go through this fearful time.  I am also grateful to each of you who pray and send warm loving thoughts our way. 

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!
 

Her Heart is Broken

I remember the first time my heart broke. I sat in the middle of the living room floor, knees drawn up to my heart, weeping--and would not be comforted. The pain was such, I could not escape. It covered me like a thick, stabbing blanket of darkness.

It seems inevitable our hearts will be broken.  Sometimes we can slip into the pit of despair.  But God sends angels to minister supernatural loving kindness and comfort to the brokenhearted. 

The truth is, our tears are never wasted. Psalm 56: 7 tells us our tears are so precious to God, that He keeps them in a bottle.   It is a stunning revelation--the Almighty Creator treasures every tear we've ever shed. Not only that, He is near and His tears mingle with ours.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 (NASB)

You are not alone. He is near, and He weeps with you.

With Great Sympathy

Last Thursday our dear friend Deann from The Whimsey Asylum was by her father's side as he slipped away to heaven. I cannot imagine the pain she must be feeling right now as her Dad's passing has left a huge hole in her world. I created this badge as a way to express my sympathy for her great loss.

Years ago my friend Geri (now in heaven, too) sent this poem by Eva Sparks Taylor. I send it now to you, dear Deann.

So, I send this note to say

My morning prayer included you.

You might be braver if you knew.

And so I send this note to say,

I took your grief to God today.

Your troubled heart,

Your load of sorrow.

Asked Him for strength for your tomorrow.

Because I am your friend, I share

Your pain as well as joy. I care.

So earnestly I give you more

Than love's own gift. At heaven's door,

I lay your broken heart, and He

Leans down to comfort you, for me.

((hugs))