You know how in a movie when a guy cries, there's no stopping the tears? Well, the next most tender thing is the heart of a daddy melted by his love for his kids...I loved Jason before we had kids, but, boy do I love him so much more today. I'm grateful for our marriage. I'm blessed to have him not only as my extremely handsome husband but my very dearest friend. I'm sad that so many marriages are torn apart by "circumstance". I guess the divorce rate for marriages of families with ill children is the same as the national average...50%. The devil abhors marriage. That's a weak verb to describe it, really. He'll use any avenue to destroy them at any cost. He doesn't give a rip about love, and he most certainly doesn't give a rip about any of us. That is why it is so easy for him to try to wreak havoc on our lives...yours, mine and the guy next door. He hates marriage so much that it is his goal on this earth to break up the Great Marriage of Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, to His eternal Bride, the Body of Christ, the Church on earth. He'll do anything to break up that glorious union. He's the crazy relative in the back of the church who, when the pastor says, "If there is anyone here who doesn't think these two shall be united in holy matrimony, speak now, or forever hold your peace", wants to literally stop the wedding, even though everyone else knows it's a perfect match.

The reality is this...we are all living in "circumstance". It's called earth. We weren't created to live outside of God's physical presence, but we do, and you can rack your brain trying to figure out why "bad things happen to good people" for the rest of your life, and yes, it's your prerogative to blame God if you want, but the truth is, this is a fallen world. We are aliens here. God does not delight in our suffering, but He can sure as heck turn it around for His glory by using it for discipline in our lives. He's the last One who wanted interaction with His creation to be like this. Remember how He walked and talked with Adam and Eve? Anyway, His word says that He disciplines those He loves. What we do through that discipline is another story. We know a really humble man who used to be a big time new ager. He was into some strange stuff. Well, his son was shot point blank by a gang member and died. Our friend made a bee line to the Lord. His wife quoted Job's wife eloquently and divorced him...I hope you don't have to wonder which one has been comforted, which one has been encouraged, which one, in the midst of pain, sadness and sorrow, has the hope that is set before him...and who is stewing in a vat of bitterness...

I've been chewing on Hebrews for a while now and want to read it a few more times. It's really rich and points to eternity, emphasizing faith as a perspective. A scripture that I memorized years ago is one I'll leave you with to chew on, as it's meat not milk...

"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:10-11