Castle of Glass

Have you ever lost a loved one? Someone who is very near and dear to you? Then today's story just might be for you.

Thursday was a day unlike any other in recent memory. It all began by watching a very powerful Linkin Park video.

In the video a boy is visited by a naval officer who tells him that his father (a SEAL team soldier) has been killed in combat. He struggles mightily with this fact and ultimately comes to a heart felt decision - to follow in his father's footsteps - serving his country.

However, the grown boy then takes a slightly different path and becomes the one who tells other Gold Star families about THEIR lost loved ones. He, better than anyone else, knows exactly how they feel when they hear the sad news.

What a brave and powerfully moving video.

When we experience someone's death - someone we love - we can react in any number of ways. We can withdraw, we can lash out, or . . . we can turn a negative into a positive like this young man did.

At the end of the video there is this quote: 

"All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope." - Winston Churchill

I would add a few words to Mr. Churchill's list - "faith" and "love."

"Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Later, that same Thursday, I visited a dear friend of mine. We spoke about her relative's cancer diagnosis. We also spoke about the death of her husband several years ago. She had also just lost one of her godparents to cancer.

Then, on my way home, I received a message from a young friend who had just lost her aunt to cancer. Stories like theirs seem to come in waves. 

How can we help the hurting people in our lives? The verse above is all we really need to remember.

Our faith in God is what gives us hope. And that hope flows out of our hearts in the form of love. We can help ease their pain with a generous helping of love. Selfless, sacrificial love.

And, here's another single word to consider for your list of great things, Mr. Churchill.

Jesus.

There is a line in today's featured song that could be a prayer to our Lord and Savior.

"Wash the sorrow from off my skin
And show me how to be whole again."

Castle of Glass - Linkin Park

For Myshelle, Bob, Katie, Becky, Sky, Dave, Destiny, Dakota, Alex, Miranda, Jeanne, Kathy, Nate, Vicki, Tammy, and anyone else who has experienced loss. There is hope and love out there. His name is Jesus. Love you all.