God is Gracious!

My kids call him their "brother from another mother".  His name is Emalin and he lives in the Dominican Republic.  We sponsor him through World Vision.  As sponsors, we get a magazine that shares what they are doing throughout the world.  It is awesome and overwhelming at the same time.  In this month's magazine there was an article about the Typhoon in the Philippines.  
(I had the honor of visiting both countries and fell in love with the people)


I would like to share what Crislyn Felisilda wrote  (she is a World Vision communications specialist):
"Typhoon Washi hit northern Mindanao, my home.  It struck in the dead of night while many were sleeping.  I can't believe what I 've seen.  As a humanitarian worker, I know I should keep going, I've seen enough other disasters.  But this time, I experienced the rawness of it all.  I saw a father squatting and cradling his muddied baby, limp and lifeless.  There were no tears in his eyes, no words from his lips, but on his mouth was a frozen scream.  I heard the cries of children searching for their loved ones.  The most heart-rending scenes were the dead bodies being pulled out, one after another, from the flood waters.  Nevertheless, I see God working graciously in the midst of suffering.  There's more work to be done."


"God working graciously in the midst of suffering."  We have all seen suffering.  I have seen a brother and sister left at an orphanage in Mexico walking hand-in-hand crying out for their parents; I have cried with orphans in Ukraine wanting a mom; I have knelt beside a brave young woman anguishing over placing her baby in another woman's arms.  


We have all been through suffering that hits us or our families and brings us to our knees.


The suffering we go through, directly or indirectly impacts us, changing us forever.  Just like how water changed the face of the Grand Canyon, these things we walk through change us.  We might become softer in some areas or harder in others.  We are no longer who we once were before the suffering.  


BUT GOD!  He moves graciously.  He is there when all we can do is read about it or watch it on TV.  He is there when we are alone with our fear.  He is gracious and gentle and holds us until we are steady again.


"There is more work to be done."  Until suffering is gone, there is more work to be done, by God, by us.


Suffering can be so overwhelming we can be paralyzed by it.  God asks us to join Him in moving graciously through suffering.


May God's graciousness be with you in your time of suffering or may you be part of God's graciousness for another.


Have a fab day!
Jodi xo


Love and hugs xoxo
~ Jodi