Mar 29 - "Beauty For Ashes"

2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ.
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It hurts to hurt. There are times when we struggle, are in pain, suffer. We wonder, what good can come of this?

Over the past couple of years, my Mom has been down quite a tough road. In the later months of 2006, her husband Mark started to exhibit behavior which pointed towards something not being right. Fast forward to February of 2007 when he is diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. This crippling and often terminal disorder took what was a strong, assured man and reduced him to a shell of his former self. Mark left this world and went into the loving arms of God on January 24, 2008.

For the period of over one year, my Mom was faced with the daily struggle of not only caring for her ill husband, but the prospect of gradually losing the man she loved for many years. How hard it must have been, dealing with caring for another who eventually could no longer care for himself and to have to do it without your best friend, your confidant to guide and support you through. She suffered greatly. The pain of this suffering has still not fully faded, nor may it ever. I am in awe of the courage she showed during this time.

But, good things can come from bad. During the past year, a dear friend of my Mom's went through a similar situation. Her husband also became ill, failing and falling towards what was to be his eventual passing late last year. Over the course of a few months, my Mom was able to give comfort to her. Because she had experienced what this woman was now experiencing, she was able to give words of support and show a caring love which had come out of her own trials. She was now able to relate in a way which she may have been unable to do, unless she had experienced the passing of her own husband.

My Mom also now volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House, helping families who have children with devastating, chronic or terminal illnesses. She is able to support them in a far richer and more meaningful way because she too has suffered their pain. By no means, do I want to imply that the Mark's illness and death occurred just so my Mom would now have the words to comfort those who are in pain. But, she has taken her pain and turned it into something magnificent.

There is a beautiful song by Crystal Lewis, based on Isaiah 61:3 ("To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."). The chorus of the song has a poignant message, putting into contrast the highs and lows we all experience:

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

So, brothers and sisters, know that when you suffer, you are not alone. Lean on those around you who have also suffered; allow beauty to come forth from their ashes. Remember that you have a Great Comforter in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is able to bring peace and solace to you because He also was persecuted and in pain. Gain peace with the recognition that you do not have to bear the burden of pain, sorrow or heartache by yourself.