A Heavy Heart

I want this blog to be about all the things that are floating around in my head.  While that may be scary sometimes, I think it will allow our lives to be documented as well as my passions, fears, dreams, etc.

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This week my heart has been so heavy for a wonderful friend of mine, Kellie.

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Kellie is a rock!  She’s stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.  She is an amazing mother to a 6 year old boy and twin 4 year old boys.

18 months ago Kellie lost her husband to a very aggressive brain tumor.  She cared for him, loved him, mourned him, and picked up the pieces to keep life as normal as possible for her boys.  At that point, I couldn’t imagine her sorrow or the loss she was experiencing as she had to raise 3 boys alone, go back to work, and keep life consistent for her boys.  She did it better than anyone could have.  She was prayerful and many people were praying with her and for her.  She stayed unbelievably strong.

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In August, her father died unexpectedly.  All I could think at that time was, “Lord, why take her father so shortly after she had lost her husband.”   Still Kellie stayed strong, she juggled family and emotions, and kept going.

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In November while she was at work (she works part time for Brad) her house was broken into.  The jerks that robbed this single mother of 3 took their electronics, her jewelry, and even her babies’ piggy banks.   Along with that they took her sense of security.  How could so much “stuff” happen to one wonderful woman?  Kellie is a low drama, low maintenance, happy, strong person, who deserves only the best.  Anyone else would have cracked at this point.  Kellie, again, picked up the pieces and kept rolling.

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Friday morning (Dec. 30), Kellie texted me to let me know that her older brother (42) died in his sleep.  He went to bed thinking he had a bad cold, and didn’t wake up.  They are awaiting toxicology reports, but they assume he had an infection he didn’t know about and it went into his blood stream.  He left behind a wife and 3 children.

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Kellie is devastated!  She’s had enough.  She loved her older brother so much, and so did her kids.  Her 6 year old son’s first questions was “Why does everyone in our family have to die?”  How can you answer that?  I’m 32 and that seems like a pretty accurate assessment.

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My point…or plea…

Please keep this wise, strong woman in your prayers!  Pray for strength and peace.  Pray for comfort.  Pray that her kids will allow her to grieve.  Pray for safety for she and her boys.  Pray for understanding, because I truly just don’t understand.  I can’t imagine, nor do I want to imagine, losing Brad, my dad, and my brother in 18 months…or even 10 years!  It’s as if she’s Job!  Pray that she and her FAITH will be a light to others through this situation.

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God’s word says in Jeremiah 29:11-13 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord.”

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I know that God’s plan is perfect, and I’m sure she will be able to look back on this dark chapter of her life (20 years from now) and see how God was working through it all.  However, I know she’s broken right now so I’m just asking for prayers.

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“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

-Romans 12:9-13