Family Struggles Stateside

When we left for the foreign mission field, I don't think we fully understood the sacrifice we were making in regards to the families we were leaving behind. After a while, the glamour and excitement of missions wore off and we began to understand the cost... it has now been four years and we have lost two grandparents, a beloved aunt, a sweet uncle... we have had to be away while Greg's mom fought (and won!) a battle with breast cancer... and Jan's sister left her husband after ten years of silently suffering abuse from her husband towards her and her four children. It is hard. You want to be there and you just can't. You have to realize, though, that there is ONE who is there. He is holding them and comforting them and with them in ways you can never be.


I am reminded of a Rich Mullins' song today as I just read news that my sister's ex has decided to not be in their lives any more at all. My nephew is crushed that his daddy doesn't want to be his daddy any more. How can you explain that to an eight year old?? Oh Jesus... Hold him!


"Well sometimes my life just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

I'm singing hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace "