Even if….<3

As I was walking around the circle of our area this morning, I was noting the yard of one neighbor that has made a marvelous recovery. The summer has been kind to this expansive yard and there is a lovely lawn of healthy green grass. 

It’s not any prettier than most of the yards, but this one is special because last year it was burnt to a crisp by some landscaping faux pas. One day it was green and thriving and the next thing you knew it was just a big brown burnt mess. 

We basically gasped when we drove by it the first time. 

We felt their pain as it was obvious some one had used the wrong product or the wrong amount of the right product or some other chemical mess had happened. We don’t know a lot about the care and feeding of lawns, but we knew it was not going to be a quick or inexpensive fix. 

It has taken a good year to complete the healing, and so today I kind of celebrated for them as I walked past and saw the healthy green lawn spreading from the sidewalk to the front door. 

I got to thinking as I walked how in life we have quite a few minor scrapes and bruises. Most people don’t really notice them.

Occasionally we have a whopper of a mess that is very visible to all who know us and even just casual observers passing by. 

These are not things that are going to fix themselves in short order. They are the long haul trials and anyone with an ounce of sense knows the healing is going to be slow, painful and come with a cost. 

That’s why we celebrate big with our friends and family when there is progress.

It’s why we sit with them in the waiting and do what we can to make the burden less painful. We help them find humor and peace and an awareness of the small steps that are getting us closer to being restored, healed and whole. 

And then, friends, there are the really hard places that just won’t ever come back. There are situations that can’t be reseeded and nurtured back to life. 

In those, I know we have to lean hard on the fact that we just won’t always understand things on this side. We put our faith in God and His promises that one day, He will make all things new and all things right, but it won’t be visible in this lifetime. 

Jesus’ final words to John in the book of Revelation promises us the hope we cling to. In verse 21:4, John writes that one day Jesus, Himself, will wipe every tear from our eyes. 

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. 

Revelation 21:4

So if you are sitting on the steps of your life and there are burned patches that no amount of seed, fertilizer, sun and rain will bring back to life, rest in this. 

He knows.

He cares. 

He will bring good even if what is lost is completely lost. 

And one day He will take that nail-scarred hand and He will wipe your tears.

He will bring an end to the old order of death and mourning, tears and pain and He will make all things new. 

You have His Word on it.

Love and hugs,
Laura