Someone on one of the grieving sites we frequent asked what books we'd recommend to help in her struggle with bitterness over the devastating loss of her child. After pointing her to the classic old devotional, "Streams in the Desert" by Mrs. Albert Cowman, I thought I'd better take another look at that, as it's been years since I've thumbed those pages, myself. I found several entries that speak to what our precious Sissa (childhood nickname for Carissa Joy) is going through. Thought I'd share a few of these in hopes they might bless many, but most particularly, this is Daddy passing on the words to his beloved Punky Muffin (my own peculiar nickname for her. Probably didn't have to tell you that!).
Starting with this one from April 26 (quoting from "An Updated Version in Today's Language," edited by James Reimann):
"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8)
"Light is always costly and comes at the expense of that which produces it. An unlit candle does not shine, for burning must come before light. And we can be of little use to others without a cost to ourselves. Burning suggests suffering, and we try to avoid pain. We tend to feel we are doing the greatest good in the world when we are strong and fit for active duty and when our hearts and hands are busy with kind acts of service. Therefore, when we are set aside to suffer, when we are sick, when we are consumed with pain, and when all our activities have been stopped, we feel we are no longer of any use and are accomplishing nothing. Yet if we will be patient and submissive, it is almost certain we will be a greater blessing to the world around us during our time of suffering and pain than when we thought we were doing our greatest work. Then we are burning, and shining brightly as a result of the fire (from "Evening Thoughts"). The glory of tomorrow is rooted in the drudgery of today. Many people want the glory without the cross, and the shining light without the burning fire, but crucifixion comes before coronation."