Death comes unexpectedly

Death is never easy. Watching a close friend grieve today was sobering. If death happens quickly and painlessly, or if death can't come fast enough, while enduring pain on earth.  It's not easy. 

But it does make me Thankful. 

I'm reminded of the old Pollyanna movie where the mad preacher says, "Death comes unexpectedly."  http://youtu.be/XpUBKw6i538  When I think of how fleating our lives are, here on planet earth, I can't help but thank God for the blessed hope we have in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm happy and rejoice for a life lived -loving people, and the legacy that is built by sharing that love with others. Just like Pollyanna, I choose to rejoice when I don't feel like it. I choose to love when they are unloving. 

The crazy thing is, we didn't earn that love. It was freely given to us, we just have to receive what is freely given. And, in turn, freely share that love. That's the hard part. Sharing. 

We are human. Our hearts are deceitful and wicked above all things. Who can know it? 

Only the love of Christ can change our hearts into His own.  

Only the love of Christ can bring joy and peace through the sorrow. 

Only the great comforter can fill the greatest longing of our hearts. 

Thank you, Lord, for a loving heart that hurts when my friends hurt and for a heart that can rejoice in YOU! Thank you for your blessed hope.  We will see our loved ones again one day in heaven! Please draw our hearts to you! Give us a hunger for you and you alone.