The power of words

         Isn't it funny how oftentimes something seemingly small and simple can radically change your perspective and attitude?
        Today, for me, that supposedly "small and simple" thing came in the form of a little note from a very dear friend.

         Actually, she's one of those folks who often seems to drop me a note at the most opportune times...meaning, right when the old spirit is flagging and I desperately need to hear a word of encouragement or exhortation.  She has no way to know, of course, since we don't live near each other and don't get to see one another in person very often.
        But He knows.  And He tells her...and she responds, because she loves Him that much.
        Think about it: the God who created the vast expanses of the universe--the hundred billion galaxies--and who holds them all together, down to every minuscule atom, every neutron, all by the power of His Word, also knows the very thoughts of our often confused minds and the emotions of our ever wildly vacillating hearts.  Not only does He know those thoughts and feelings...but our mighty Lord understands them and cares about them.  Cares personally.  Cares perpetually.
         And cares powerfully...meaning our Lord can, and does, act upon what He knows, sees and cares so deeply about in His bewildered or discouraged or frustrated or exhausted or disappointed child.
        Sometimes He acts through the sound of a song that reminds us of His great grace.  Sometimes through the beauty of a summer sunset.  Sometimes through the smell of His ocean or pine tree or honeysuckle.  All quietly singing their own hymn of God's forever faithfulness.  Sometimes through the timely hug of a friend or the sharing of unexpected laughter when smiles have been hard to come by.  Jesus, once again, singing His song of "I love You" through His children.
        And sometimes He does it through a note of encouragement and love.
        Isn't it appropriate that a simple letter would have such power?  After all, God has given us His greatest treasures in the form of words....or more specifically, the Word.  Both His written Word--praise God for our Bibles!...and His glorious Living Word--praise God for the Lord Jesus, the Word of God!  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1,4-5)
        There is nothing, absolutely nothing,  like the Word.  Thank You, thank You, thank You, Father.
        But what a privilege, what a remarkable gift, that we, too, get to use words--words just like God used and inspired and breathed out for us in His Word.  We have the remarkable privilege of using words with one another!  He's given us words so that we can express love to others. Encourage others.  Exhort others.  Teach others.  (Sometimes correct others--right, parents?!)  Change others.  Forgive others.
        And He's given us words to speak directly to Him.  Who can get over that wonder--talking to God!  Words to use to ask forgiveness from Him.  Pray to Him.  Praise Him.  Question Him.  Magnify Him.  Glorify Him.
        So today, how are you using His gift of words?
        Have you spent some of those words today in glorifying the wondrous Savior who made you, loves you, and gave His very life to redeem you?  Have you thanked Him...I mean today?  Have you thanked Him today for the very breath you just took and the eyes that are reading these words and the inconceivable, unmerited, unending treasure of His saving grace?
       How about others?  How have you spent your words when it comes to those around you?  Is there some name God is whispering to your heart?  Maybe right now, Jesus is gently speaking the specific name of some priceless soul who needs your words of encouragement.  Or of love.  Or of "I know you feel alone and discouraged, but you're not...I'm with you...I'm talking to the Sovereign King of the universe about you...and in His Word He just told me to remind you He loves you perfectly and He is with you powerfully."
       Use your words.  Don't let them die within your heart this day...write them down or speak them out loud.  To your Lord.  To your loved ones.  To whomever the Holy Spirit is directing you.  His Word is Life.  Might our words share and spread that glorious Light.
      To God be the glory.
     
       
       

Remembering August 24...and rejoicing again

So I'm sitting here feeling a bit overwhelmed...lots and lots to do, not much energy, missing the hustle and bustle of a full house, a bit melancholy, really sad over several friends who have gone home to be with the Lord, not to mention still fighting this virus...

But I haven't forgotten what today is--August 24th, the anniversary of the girls' car accident three years ago.  In fact, even as I write these words, three years ago, I was just learning about the wreck and was preparing to drive with the wonderful Andrews to the hospital in Greenville.  It's as vivid in my memory as the day it happened--I had just rushed in the door, bringing pizza from Mellow Mushroom home for dinner (yes, I'm such a great cook!) when Pat called to say there had been a wreck...

And life changed in an instant.  

Just thought I'd put in some pictures to remind myself of all that God did in that remarkable month.  And to recall, once again, the great truth of Ephesians 3:20 that our Lord  "is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations and forever and ever. Amen." (Eph.3:20-21)  Never forget it.  He is able.  He is so, so able.

Russ and Creecy trying to help us get down Janie's fever--who knew how useful a bedpan could be?!

 Sometimes I forget this was our daughter...just like sometimes I forget Your faithfulness to us, Father.  Oh forgive me for my lack of thankfulness...every day, every person is a priceless gift--

 A trip from Greenville to UNC-CH, thanks to this amazing ICU ambulance.  Lord, thank You for so many wonderful, skilled, and amazing doctors, nurses, and technicians at Greenville and UNC.  Thank You for all the ways You have given your blessings of wisdom and healing to the medical profession.

 And when we arrived in Chapel Hill, here were some very precious friends we saw the first day.   Thumbs up--the sign we were waiting for from Janie and finally got after two long weeks of her being unconscious.  Lord, thank You, thank You, thank You for friendship.  What a wondrous blessing it is in our lives.

 And then by God's grace and by His mighty power, Janie awoke...and it was like seeing someone you love being reborn.  Coming back from the dead.  There are simply no words, but thank You...to God be all, all, all the glory.
       Mary Norris and Matt (and Peter)--so thankful for them!

 Sweet Tessa and Janie the first time they saw each other.  Many tears.  Much gratitude.

 And dear, precious, priceless friends coming to visit.  I think of that great line from "It's a Wonderful Life" when Clarence says to George Bailey, "George, no man is a failure who has friends."  I'd have to add, no man can enjoy a greater earthly blessing than having friends.  Truly gifts from God.

 And more members of my wonderful family

 And more friends...blessing upon blessing upon blessing...

 Tessa got to leave the hospital!  Yay!  (Though we sure missed the Jones crew when they left--the hospital was a lot less lively without them!)  Tessa dealt with so much pain yet was the bravest, most amazing young woman imaginable.

And her brothers came to visit--

 And everyone's favorite outing--Starbucks!  How cool is that--a Starbucks in the hospital lobby!  God is good all the time!

 Then when we came home, our dear neighbors had decorated the streets with welcome home signs.  There's no place like home...and there's nothing like friends and neighbors! Thank You, Lord!

 And lots and lots of Broughton Caps came to visit!  Have I said thank You, Lord, for the gift of friendship?  Does anybody out there need reminding?  Maybe there's someone you need to call or write or hug or thank for their friendship?  Do it now!

 Their first outing to church--it was a glorious day!  Many tears, much worship, marvelous Lord.

 One of my all-time favorite shots--the girls at their first UNC football game.  Just a sweet memory...even in the rain.  And thankful to our dear friend Ellen for the handicapped parking spot!

 Finally, remembering one furry friend...sweet old Moses.  This was the chair where Janie would sit, and this was the place Moses would always sit right beside her while she recovered.  When she was home, he was by her side.  Oh Lord, You are truly the Giver of all good and perfect gifts (James 1:17)...thank You for the gift of our dogs.

        Suddenly my crummy mood has vanished as I've remembered God's faithfulness...not just in saving the lives of all four of those precious girls in the wreck, not just in healing Tessa and Janie, not just in the countless desperate prayers God answered so powerfully day after day, but also in His faithfulness in the beautiful, priceless gift of our family and friends.  Their prayers...their meals...their carpools...their gift cards...their presence...their love and kindness shown to us in a million, zillion ways.  We can never repay, but we can remember and then we can rejoice in the God who put each of them in our lives.  Oh Father, thank You...and help us to love You and to love others well.  
       All by Your grace...all to Your glory.
      To God and God alone be all the glory.  

Remember Jesus...and rejoice

        "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.  But the Word of God is not bound!  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Tim.2:8-10)
        Paul wrote these words in 2 Timothy when he imprisoned for the final in the Mamertine Prison in Rome.  These would be his last words, written in the final days of his life shortly before his execution in Rome.  As I wrote about the other day, visiting this tiny, dark, damp place was something our girls and I would not forget.

        The picture does not even begin to do it justice.  The cell is minuscule and was cool even on a sweltering August day, so think how miserably frigid it would have been in wintertime.  Because the room was originally constructed to be a water cistern, it would have been damp and wet most of the year.  Moreover, the cell would have been unimaginably dark without our modern day artificial lighting.  In the days of Peter and Paul, access to the cell would have been through a hole in the ceiling that opens to another level, and prisoners were typically thrown or lowered into the cell through that hole.
        You put all that together, along with the filth, the smells, the lack of any fresh air or sunlight, and you have a place of hopelessness, degradation, and misery.
        And in that place of despair and wretchedness, Paul wrote the words of 2 Timothy.  Words that begin his letter like "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord.  I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers day and night." (2 Tim.1:1-3)
       Really, Paul?  Amazing--Paul recognizes that he is an apostle and, therefore, is where is, "by the will of God."  And the one who who should be despondent over his wretched condition is praying for other people day and night (so much for being self-focused) and is thanking God for the privilege of serving Him, even in a terrible place such as this.  Not to mention, Paul knows that any day now he will be executed for his faithfulness to his Savior.    
       So, how ya doing?
       Yes, I know life can be hard, and we all will suffer, but look at Paul and be encouraged.  As far as I know, none of us has had to languish in tiny, dark, wet cell--neglected and alone, awaiting our execution.  Sort of puts our trials and difficulties in perspective, doesn't it?
       The past couple of days, I've been sick with a virus that has left me feeling pretty miserable--sore throat, fever, aches and headaches, exhaustion.  But then I think of Peter and Paul in that prison, and it changes my perspective.  If Paul could be grateful in a place like that, then surely we can as well no matter how hard and dark our current circumstances.
       And do you know one of the secrets to such contentment and even joy in the midst of hardship?  I think Paul says it so succinctly and clearly in 2 Tim.2:8--"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead."  When we remember  our Savior, remember His sinlessness and His sufferings on our behalf...remember His faithfulness all the way to the cross...remember His defeat of sin and death and rising from the grave...remember His resurrection glory...then how can we not be encouraged in the midst of whatever we are enduring?
       That's the key--remember Jesus!  Remember His resurrection.  Remember His grace.  Remember His power.  Remember the unconquerable hope we have in Christ.  Remember and be encouraged to endure for the joy set before you and the Savior who will never ever leave you.
       No matter what we might be dealing with today, like Paul, let's remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead...and rejoice.  To God be the glory.
     

Mamertine prison...and steadfastness

It's been a tough week...well, actually in many ways it's been a tough summer.  

Yes, lots of happy, fun this summer--the absence of homework, the mountains with our family, the trip to Italy with our girls (so much joy, so much gratitude--thank You, Jesus!), wonderful dinners out with friends (my kitchen has forgotten who I am--I wonder if our stove still works?), the family reunion at the Homestead, and, oh, did I mention NO homework?  Hallelujah!

But the last few weeks have held their share of heart-crushing sorrow--several dear friends who have gone home to be with the Lord.  Sickness.  Disappointments.  Children flying the nest and leaving a too-quiet home. Not to mention the struggles of growing older...and tireder...and confronted with change and more change on every front.  

For the record, I rarely like change.  Let me rephrase that--I almost always despise and resent change.  Give me the status quo any day--people you love staying healthy.  Beloved neighbors staying put and not moving.  Older family members staying strong and sharp.  Children--yeah, you guessed it--staying at home and not growing up and moving away.  Shoot, even restaurants we've enjoyed for years staying open and not closing.   

When faced with so many of life's difficult but relentless changes, it's mighty easy to give in to discouragement or wallow in self-pity.  Because let's face it--life isn't easy.  It's so true that this world is not a playground but a battleground, and everyday we open our eyes, we need to be armed and ready with a battleground mentality.  

Not, mind you, an attitude of hostility.  No, no!  Instead it's an attitude that's powered by the mind of Christ and grounded in the Word of God.  I love the words of James that we will be studying in our Bible study this year: "Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

Don't you love that word, "steadfastness?"  

It means the ability "to endure patiently...a steadfast person is one who is reliable, faithful, and true to the end...Perseverance."  Who doesn't want and need that?  No matter life's changes or difficulties, we want to persevere, to faithfully endure to the end and to do so with joy and faith.  And James says that when steadfastness has it's full effect in our lives, we will be "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Sign me up!  

But here's the thing--such steadfastness of character, such indomitable joy, such completeness and even perfection requires one thing--trials.  

No trials and difficulties...no steadfastness.  

But add struggles and changes to the mix, and you'll discover steadfastness...and develop joy, gratitude, strength, love, peace, and hope that no longer ebbs and flows based upon your ever-changing circumstances but remains certain and secure based upon your ever-faithful God.   

I'm going to talk about this more in a day or two, but can I just give you a quick picture of steadfastness?  It's from Rome...the Mamertine prison, to be exact.  

Mamertine prison was reportedly the last place both Peter and Paul were imprisoned before their executions in Rome.  

         Mary Norris, Janie, and I would probably all say it was one of the most powerful and enduring memories from our trip. A tiny, dark, damp, and terribly depressing place.  
         Like I said, there will be more on this in a day or two, but for now, let's remember what just two of our brothers in Christ endured...and how they were steadfast under trial and faithful all the way to the very end...  
         ...which was really, gloriously, only their magnificent beginning.  
        I don't know what kinds of trials you might be enduring right now, but might you, might we all, take courage and be strengthened to "Count it all joy!"  Count it all joy, like our brothers, Peter and Paul in Rome, and like our brothers and sisters across the globe today who are suffering and even dying for the name, and to the glory, of Christ.  
       Oh Lord Jesus, You are worthy!  Help us to be steadfast-- 
       Renew our thinking with Your mind,  fill us with Your power, guide us by Your Holy Spirit, strengthen us with Your Word, and encourage us by the gift of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Make us steadfast, Father, and enable us to count it all, all, all joy.  
       By Your grace.  For Your glory.  
       To God be the glory. 

Bill...stood the test...receiving the crown of life

       "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12)
       Thank You, Lord, for Your always timely, always good, always powerful Word.
       I read these words from the book of James just this morning and immediately the smiling face and twinkling eyes of a remarkable man, Bill Duff, came to mind.  For you see, after a difficult battle with cancer, Bill went on home to be with the Lord yesterday evening--and this man described in James sounds exactly like Bill.  Bill was "steadfast under trial."  He "stood the test."  And now, Bill is the one who is "blessed" and,  at this very moment is receiving "the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him."
       You know, I hate cancer.  I hate this horrible disease that has robbed our world, even just in the past few weeks here in Raleigh--of such wonderful, godly, amazing individuals like Bill Duff and Paul Creech.  Cancer has taken from us so many other infinitely precious mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, and friends...and they've been taken from us too soon.  Way too soon.
       But that's from my very limited perspective.  I only glimpse a very tiny, very limited little piece on the back of the canvas--all those ugly, little loose strings on the backside of the needlepoint.  
      God, on the other hand, understands and sees it all--the enormously huge whole, not just a tiny portion.  Moreover, our Lord sees, plans, and creates from the right side of the canvas--not from the confusing back but from the front where the beautiful needlepoint design is revealed in all it's intricacy, glory, and wonder.
       I have absolutely no doubt that if Bill, or Paul, or Rebecca, or my Daddy, or any of the dear folks we've all prayed for so long and hard could speak to us right now, they would tell us, "Mine is the greater deliverance!"  They would declare that God's sovereign timing is perfect--never too early, never too late.  And despite all the people still here that love them and want them here,  they would not want to come back to this old sin-sick planet, for they have seen, heard, felt, experienced such glorious things beyond anything any of us could dare to dream or imagine.
       Think of it: united with loved ones who have gone on home before them.  Enjoying Life as it was meant to be truly lived and enjoyed--devoid of all sin, sorrow, separation--only joys unending. Exploring worlds and glimpsing glories beyond all comprehension.  Gazing upon the gracious, beautiful, and infinitely loving face of Jesus.  They would be astounded that we could even wish them to come back here!  How can one consider leaving perfect love, perfect glory, perfect wonder, perfect peace, perfect beauty, perfect joy?
       None of us could even begin to contemplate such a sacrifice...but Jesus did.
       He relinquished it all...that we, and Bill, and Paul, and so many countless others--might receive it all.  What a Savior.  What a Lord.
      We grieve today.  As I look out on the rain pouring down outside, I think, yes, even the earth weeps for our temporary loss of Bill.  But even as I write those words, I realize it's not true--Bill's not lost.  No, something can only be lost if you don't know where it is.  We know exactly where Bill is, for because Jesus was His Lord and Savior, we know, know know precisely where he is right this very moment: rejoicing in glory and experiencing the infinite wonders of heaven.  Incredible.
      Bill's not "lost"...just out of our range of vision...for a little while.  A very little while.  But one glorious day, we will see him again.  And I'm just betting he'll have that familiar old twinkle in his eye!
      "I shall rise from the dead...I shall see the Son of God, the Sun of Glory, and shine myself as that sun shines.  I shall be united to the Ancient of Days, to God Himself, who had no morning, never began...No man ever saw God and lived.  And yet, I shall not live till I see God; and when I have seen Him, I shall never die." (John Donne)
      Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord Jesus.  Thank You for coming. Thank You for dying.  Thank You for rising from the dead...that we might live.  Forever.  And ever.
      To God be the glory.

New morning...new mercies

                            A little food for weekend thought--

        How many times have I quoted these verses?  A bunch...but they're pure gold, so here they are again--"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lam.3:22-23)
        I love those words on so many levels.  First, consider the source...that is, the name of the Old Testament book and the writer.  Lamentation--the dictionary defines the word as "the passionate expression of grief or sorrow; weeping."  The book of Lamentations was written after the complete destruction and desolation of the nation of Judah after the fall of the city of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.  It was a horrific time--God's chosen people were decimated and exiled by the ruthless nation of Babylon.  And the author who recounts this terrible period was Jeremiah--also known as "the weeping prophet"--for he grieved over his people's sin and their defeat and utter destruction suffered as a result of their disobedience and rejection of God.
        Yet, right in the midst of so much sorrow and desolation comes this magnificent truth: God's love never, ever ceases.  His mercies never, ever end.  His faithfulness is great beyond all our imagining and infinitely beyond our deserving.  And, perhaps best of all from the standpoint of us frail, temporary little dust people--His mercies are brand new every single morning.
        He will never run out or run low of His mercies.  Moreover, God will give us a daily fresh supply of His mercies.  Those mercies will be abundantly more than any need that will arise each and every day.  And the Lord will provide that brand new mercy for every situation we will face each day--just what we need, just when we need it,  tailor-made just for us, and always more than "just enough."
        We don't need to look back longingly at yesterday's mercies and wonder if they can possibly sustain us today.  Nope, our Father has fresh, perfect mercies ready and available for us today.
        We don't need to look ahead with worry and anxiety, fearing that perhaps His mercies will be inadequate for tomorrow or next week or next year.  No way!  Like that manna God provided every morning for His people wandering in the desert under Moses, God's mercies will be brand new each and every morning for each and every day...and we can count on it just as surely as we count on the sun rising every morning.  If there will be a new day tomorrow...then there will be new mercies from God to carry us through.
         "His mercies are new every morning."  Aren't you thankful?
        I love these words on this from Paul David Tripp: "Post those six words on the mirror that you look into each morning.  Affix them on the door of your refrigerator.  Tape them to the dashboard of your car.  Glue them on the inside of your glasses. Put them somewhere where you will see them every day.  Don't allow yourself to have a view of yourself, of others, of circumstances, of daily joys and struggles, of God, of meaning and purpose, and what life is all about that is devoid of this gorgeous redemptive reality: mercy....Let these amazing words sink in.  If you are God's child, they describe your identity and your hope.  They give you reason to get up in the morning and to continue.  They enable you to face and admit how messed up you really are.  They allow you to extend mercy to the failing people around you.  And they allow you to be comforted by God's presence rather than be terrified at the thought that He is near."
          Yes, indeed, praise God that "His mercies are new every morning!"
          Today, right now, will you thank your gracious, generous Father for His tender mercies He has for you this very day?  Tomorrow, the moment your eyes open for a new day, awaken with joy and hope, knowing His mercies are new yet again and will be exactly what you need for the day.  And as you look to the future, choose to live with faith and without fear for you can rest secure in the certain knowledge that God's mercies will be ever new, ever sufficient, and ever powerful.  For His mercies rest upon His perfect, eternal faithfulness and love.
          New morning...new mercies...never failing.  To God be the glory.

College...neat bedrooms...and love

        About a week ago, our son, Preyer, was playing tee ball at the Salvation Army--

        Then, when I turned my head away for a moment, he was suddenly in elementary school and wrestling with his brothers in our front yard (Preyer's the one in the middle)--

        And then, foolish mama that I am (though I'd been warned time and again), I looked away for another millisecond, and it was time to pack him up for college.  Suddenly, our busy, noisy, messy home of seven...has become a terribly quiet and much neater home of three.  I walked upstairs to his room and have never ever seen it so clean--beds made, clothes put away, books shelved, and no papers, ipod, phone charger, golf hats, or gum wrappers on the floor.
        So clean...and I'm wondering why I ever could have gotten upset about messy bedrooms.
        But here's the thing: a few years back, God gave us an enormous gift in Janie's accident that has helped prepare us for these hard moments.  For we learned then that each day, each moment, is precious and never-to-be-repeated.  When Janie left to go to the lake that day, I had been distracted, talking on the phone, and so I failed to tell her I love her.  I've made plenty of mistakes as a parent (in fact, that's a huge understatement), but never again have I failed to tell my children I love them whenever we say goodbye--whether for an hour or a month.  "I love you...salt and light, make a difference."  Pretty much every time, every child, year after year.
        Because people are precious, life is short, but God is big.
        So for the last several years, messy bedrooms haven't bothered me.  Almost never do they cause me to fuss and fume.
         I can make a bed and gather clothes from the floor...I can't make a moment or gather lost time with those I love.  While we have them...we need to love them with all our hearts...even with all their--and our--imperfections.
        Like Michelangelo's unfinished statutes I talked about the other day--those we love are slowly being formed into God's masterpieces...but we need eyes to see and hearts to love, trust, forgive, encourage, and help them along the way.  So don't waste so much time and attention on the minor stuff that won't matter a hill of beans in few years.  Yes, we need to train and teach our children...but more importantly we need to love and treasure them, for we will not have them forever.  And when we look at their empty rooms after they've left for college, we won't be focused on their neatness but on their preciousness.  
       Preyer's battered old car all packed up this morning, we prepared to head to college--

       Moved his stuff into the dorm room--

      And ate one more lunch with him and some dear friends, the Pages, before we headed back home and left our priceless, irreplaceable gift of Preyer at college.

       Lots of tears...but lots of thankfulness.  Thank You, Father, for the joyous privilege of knowing, raising and loving this young man.  Thank You that he loves You and seeks to bring You glory with his life.  Thank You for allowing imperfect, sinless, often clueless parents like us, enjoy the happy wonder of raising children.  Wow, might we never get over the gift of that!
      Thank You that our children are doing exactly what You've called them to do--grow up, leave our little nest, and fly out into the world to make a difference for You.  Oh Father, please protect them, guide them, guard them, strengthen them, encourage them, and use them to show the world Your greatness and Your glory.
       Most of all, thank You, thank You, thank You for allowing me to be their mama.  Got to quote him once again, old, wise Dr. Suess: "Don't cry because it's over...smile because it happened."  And by the way--it's not over till we get to heaven...and then it will really be just beginning!  So keep loving, treasuring, savoring, and smiling.
       To God be the glory.