Back in time

I was asked a question today that stuck with me.
If you could go back in time to one day in your past, what day would it be?
I thought about that one for a while and this is what I came up with..

there is something heavenly about being at the point where the water meets the sea. looking back in time now, going to the beach this summer, was the single experience that in its own way connected me to the wonder, and the beauty of God's creation. so If I could go back, I would go back to the moment my eyes were opened to the beauty around me

Easier said

This is going to be short and sweet. Why? because somethings don't require a lengthy explanation.

"You should never be surprised when someone treats you with respect, you should expect it." 
— Sarah Dessen 

Sometimes we are so absorbed in what we are doing, and how we are living our lives that we forget, neglect, and under appreciate the ones who care the most. I've watched many people go through hard times and leave those hard times walking away from the person who was there in the sidelines, supporting them even when they didn't realize. there was a point where I used to get VERY upset with people when I saw them do this simply because in my culture, its not keep your friends close and your enemies closer, its just simply keep your friends CLOSE and your enemies will figure themselves out.
funny story, I realize now that I don't appreciate the ones I should appreciate as well as I should appreciate them. I'm pretty guilty of wasting my time on people who couldn't care less about me and not giving due respect to the people who truly care, so after some serious thinking, I've decided to start my life of fresh, giving attention to those who deserve it not those who demand it. I believe God provides us with angels and we need to recognize those angels instead pushing them away.

Where do we go from here? How do we carry on?

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you." Isaiah 43:2

How do you comfort someone who has lost a loved one. how do you find a way to tell them that somehow God was present, and aiding in the departure of the one they loved so dear? Death is really a touchy thing and to be placed in a situation where you have to comfort is difficult. What it more difficult is being the one that needs the comforting. Yesterday my best friend received news that his grandma was dying. before he could make it to her bedside to say goodbye, she had died. Joe is probably one of the most important people to me. He means more to me than words can describe because he was the only person that did not walk away from me when I was at my all time low (mid you he didn't know I had hit rock bottom... guess he just thought I was always that moody). I would do anything to protect him from hurt! So when I received the news that his grandma had died before he could say goodbye, it hurt me! Not just because she was a hilarious woman and it was a tragedy to loose her, and not just because he couldn't say goodbye, but because he had to experience this kind of pain! I searched my brain for what I would say to him, what I COULD say to him, to make less pain less... and I couldn't find it. but then I remembered  my favorite bible verse, the one that has carried me through much of the grief in my short life...

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." ~2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God comforted me when I needed comforting a year ago when two good friends died, and there is really nothing I can do to comfort Joe in this time except for let God use me however he sees fit. The only one that can give the comfort that he needs is God, and he has said that even when we walk through the Valley of the shadow of death, he is with us.