The music was pumping and everyone was singing from their hearts, because the words were full of meaning. I could feel the energy and excitement floating around the room.
With that level of feeling, you’d think I was at a Shania Twain or Rolling Stones concert. I, too, would have thought that many years ago. But I was at a recent church service with my lovely bride.
Maria and I were sitting in the second row. As the music changed from a faster pace to a slower melody, my eyes were wet and cool tears rolled down my warm cheeks. Sure, it was partly due to the music and what the song was expressing in words. What sent me over the edge into a period of sobbing that seemed like hours, but really was the length of the song, was the pureness and unconditional love I saw between a mom and dad and their daughter.
They were in the row in front of us. I noticed a huge smile on the teenager’s face, which glowed with the joy she was experiencing from the inside out. I could feel the love she had not only for the music, but also toward her parents. It seemed that she pulled every word, and the expression of love, deep into her heart.
As her parents gazed at her, it was as if they knew how their daughter felt at that moment. I wondered if they felt the kind of completeness that we parents often feel when we see our children happy.
As the church service ended, these parents pushed the wheelchair of their special-needs daughter past us. I took a huge deep breath and wanted to ask them about what I was sensing. Were they as content as they seemed? If so, how did they hold onto that in the midst of what I imagined to be the significant pressure of caring for a special-needs child 24/7/365?
Each of us deals with questions like Why? and How will I get through this? in many different ways during this one short life we have. Why was Abbie’s life taken at age 21? Why did my divorce come at that period of time? Why is there so much pressure in business decisions? Why did my dad, who was such a Godly man, die? Life can seem so unfair at times.
I don’t know the answers to life’s most difficult questions. But I can say that the example I saw in church gave me hope that there is an answer. Are we humble enough to seek it?
Live inspired,
Jimmy
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