Broken with Perfect Brightness of Hope

Father, please Comfort and bless those who stand in need of comfort. How often have we heard this plea during a prayer at church or even during a family prayer in our own homes? We are admonished in the scriptures to ' mourn with those who mourn'. To take others burdens upon ourselves that they might be lightened.

Around Christmas I mentioned our dear friend and neighbor was diagnosed with 2 brain tumors. His wife is one of my dearest friends, even a friend of my heart who knows and keeps those secret things of my heart, close to hers.

 They live next door. We planted our yards to compliment each others. Their backyard is the other one blended with ours, pictured in my header photo.
Although life has been going on for others, my sweet friend has been in mourning as she has lovingly cared for her sweetheart until he passed. She mentioned  to me a few days ago, “How can life seem so normal for others when mine if falling apart?”

This morning I stood on their driveway, as her husband, sweetheart, companion, friend, and lover was driven away from their home in a black shiny Hearst. He was 61 years young. Hearts broke and tears  flowed...

My friend, their children and other family members stood there and watched as it slowly made the way down the street,  hearts were broken. Although we have light and knowledge through the gospel of Jesus Christ of where R went this morning, and of the incredibly sweet reunions he is enjoying today with his Savior, Jesus Christ, and other loved ones, my heart is weeping for my precious friend and their children. Especially for their precious 17 year old daughter who we have watched grow up into a lovely young woman and who has is feeling the loss of beloved daddy in her life. Please pray for her.

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Last week I shared my excitement of winning this beautiful chair. I didn’t tell you how I found the package had arrived and was waiting on our porch. The door bell rang. I opened the door and my sweet friend was standing there with these lovely white lilies in her hand, a thank you card and a huge hug. We stood there, hugged and sobbed liked babies and then she said, “Oh, you have a package.” She brought it into our home and she marveled that a friend in blogland would send such a gorgeous gift to someone she didn’t know. (Thanks Again Muse:)

Then, she collapsed as she poured out her heart and the pain that was there.  I am so grateful for friends!  That we have each other when life gets hard.

Later,  I sat on our sofa and looking at my two gifts which arrived at the SAME time, the lilies she brought and the generous gift of the Fleur de lis chair, with the symbol of the Lily,

I couldn’t help but think of the poignant symbolism of the lily. (I hadn’t realized at the time I captured both in them in the pictures I had taken of the chair:)
Here my sweet friend was thinking about me, another person,  when her OWN grief was almost more than she could bear, brought me her love and the sweet lilies of the field.

So often friends comfort others when their own needs are greater than those being comforted. “That quality is like the generosity of Jesus on the cross. Empathy during agony is a portion of divinity!” by Neal A Maxwell.  I have witnessed her doing this over and over again during the years.
I couldn’t help but think about the Easter Lily and what it represents. I know I will never look the same way again at a beautiful lily.

Lilies are brown, wrinkled bulbs that are buried deep in the earth, then send forth green shoots that grow tall and have beautiful flowers.
The Easter lily blooms at this special time of year and reminds us that our Savior, Jesus Christ was “buried” in a tomb and came out of it resurrected, glorious and will never die again. I am so grateful for this knowledge and for HIS gift of the ATONEMENT in my life.

Connie just posted on their Caringbridge blog,  where she has posted their incredibly moving and poignant journey these past few months,
“ Today, my love, R, passed away at 6:54 am. I will be forever changed. I will find words soon. Right now my heart is broken. No words.
Still sending all my love,

I am heart broken for her.  My heart weeps she has lost her sweetheart so early in life. I am grateful they know and hold to the knowledge of their love and marriage is eterna. They know they will see each other again.
He was the same age as my own dad was when he passed away. I know how hard it has been on my mom. I hope I can be there in the coming days and months to mourn with and COMFORT  her and their beautiful family as they mourn the passing of their own gentle and spiritual man who loves the Lord, husband, father and grandpa.  But mostly just love.

Please cherish those around you, love them and hold them tight. Enjoy each day! We never know.

Much Love, Beth