frustrated, but ever hopeful...

I hate it when I see people around me hurt and I am powerless to help. I suppose I should be powerless always or else I wouldn't give credit where its due.

My sister...




We are so different, opposites in many ways. When it comes to boys our styles are different. She is bubbly, flirts, and teases, I'm shy, quiet, often intimidated, and sometimes even rude. Yet, somehow, the outcomes are the same... relational failures in this department.

We don't date usually, but when we do the sleazy guys find her, the weird guys find me. And lately we both have had encounters with two major assholes.

Me first (afterall, I am the oldest). Then her. Different scenarios but same outcomes.

I'm healing, her wound is fresh and deep.

The recovery time has been very long for me, and the hardest part of seeing her go through all of this is the knowledge that it will take her just as long and longer since this wound was added to many more besides.

This Easter I hope that we will remember that Jesus was "sent to bind up the brokenhearted" and purify our sin-stained hearts. Through him we are now clean, pure, spotless, radiant with his beauty.

"Dayenu! It would have been enough!

Dayenu! God always does more than He needs to."

And we remember that God is faithful to keep his promises.

So for all of us who have been hurt or wounded in some way, we remember that He not only forgives, He heals and restores. We are no longer slaves. We are beautiful and strong with our eyes lifted up rather than cast down. He is faithful.

Keep our hearts from bitterness, keep them warm in your hands.
Keep our feet from destruction, keep them on your path.
Keep our eyes from looking back, keep them ever focused on your face.