The best gift ever

I had an awesome weekend with family. My brother and his family came to visit us for a few days. This was especially meaningful because it was his birthday and they chose to spend it with us. We had a fantastic time of nothingness. We had no particular agenda… All we did was enjoy each others company. It was awesome!

Then it dawned on me. This is all I really need... in fact this is all that we need. During bereavement people always try to be what they are not. They try to act in a way that they think will make us feel better. The truth is nothing will make us feel better... We lost our son... It is terribly painful and it probably will be that way for a very long time (maybe even forever). 

So if you want to be helpful, share yourself with us. Be who God had gifted you to be! You are a gift to us, don't break the gift and change it into something it was not meant to be. Please let me decide if I need it or not. After all that is the nature of giving gifts: Someone gives a gift and the other person decides whether to keep it of throw it out. 

By far the most meaningful contribution or engagement we have had during this difficult time has been the genuineness of family and friends. I am reminded that when Peter and John met with brokenness at the Temple Gate they simply offered what they had, and what they had, brought healing to brokenness.

Acts 3

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength."

So here is the challenge… Try and be truly you today. The world is full of brokenness and that brokenness needs authentic people being the gifts that God made us to be…