1.24.2010

Diamonds

Dearest Arden,
Let me give you one simple reason
I know that God is good.
(There are a million of them --
but for tonight
this is the one that shines most brightly for me.)

My patriarchal blessing tells me that I will live
only as long as life is sweet to me.
So whenever life seems like more than I can bear
I always check to see if I'm still alive.

Yes, today my heart is breaking at
yet another unimaginable loss
A tiny life, bright and precious
gone from our arms so soon.
Almost too soon to bear
So soon, following
So many others
I have cherished and prayed for
And still lost
So soon
I can't seem to catch my breath in between them all
And now no way to spare my beautiful daughter
from this anguish
I understand far too well.

But I know God is good,
And I know His promises are sure
And I'm still alive.
So, I dry my eyes and lift my weary head
and look around
for the promised sweetness.

I don't have to look far.

Tonight, when I went out to walk the dogs,
a quiet moon poured down onto the fresh, perfect snow
and cast a thousand shimmering diamonds across the landscape.

So.
Even if He asks me to suffer for now
I know God is good and tender
and loving and caring
and mindful of me.

Because when I walked out into the darkness
and the deep chill of this winter night,
He cared enough
to pave my way with diamonds.



"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,
that we are the children of God:
and if children, then heirs;
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Romans 8:16-18

9 comments:

Damaris @Kitchen Corners said...

no wonder Natalie is so amazing with words. she gets it from her mother.

Gibson Gang said...

I second that!

Margie said...

Absolutley Beautiful!! -

Olivia said...

Thank you for sharing that beautiful experience with all of us. Your strength and courage are unmeasurable.

Arden said...

Dear amazing Annie, Thank you so much for your reply and thinking once again not of yourself but of someone else. How selfish of me but I had to let you know that you and Natalie have Divine answers. You both put into words what I cannot, I only know that I feel what you say. I know God is good I just wish I knew what I don't know. Now that sounds like me. You are so loved and thanks once again for thinking to write me. The heart does make perfect choices. Love you and yours, Arden

Unknown said...

I love that scripture. "Joint heirs with Christ."

How overwhelming/humbling to know that we will inherit the same thing that Christ will inherit. That He was willing to suffer so much so that we could have the same reward that He will have. If we endure.

You are lovely!

Annie Link said...

LInds and Damaris-
You couldn't have given me a sweeter compliment. Thank you.

Natalie. said...

lovely.

shelly said...

So very beautiful! This scripture is wonderful! Absolutely wonderful.