We had a fabulous week at the beach. I’m late on my blog post this week because of that. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect time with my sweet husband, sister and new brother in law! We ate, slept in, played games–I won all of our dominos games ;-)–watched movies, and even got to see a gray whale.

Spouting whale at Whale Cove

The weather couldn’t have been better with twenty degrees cooler temperatures at a comfortable 65 degrees. The view from our borrowed home was the best. We watched the sun go down each evening, but our last evening there seemed even more stupendous.

There was a taint of sadness, though. We’d heard the news from our church family of a drowning accident of a little boy on the eve of his third birthday. Oh, the wrenching sorrow for that  family. They know Jesus and they will experience His peace and comfort, but a tearing loss that is so hard to understand. Please pray for the parents and extended family of little Johnny.

It seems there are always blemishes of sadness on our horizons. It’s hard to not ask why. And God is fine with our asking that question. Job of the Bible did.

There are other blemishes in our lives. Life is just plain hard sometimes. I won’t go into my heartaches right now, but we all have them. They are numerous pesky ones. Some are greater.

Today, as we enter into the weekend, let’s pray for each other. For the aging. For those battling significant illnesses that stop them from having a full life. For disappointments that come to all of us. And for those who’ve lost a loved one, young or old, through death. Estrangement.

Heavenly Father, as we think about these needs, help us to lean on You for guidance. For comfort. For courage.

In the strong name of Jesus, Amen. 

Near Depoe Bay, Oregon Coast