The tragic reality of living in a world filled with evil touched my life unexpectedly this week. A friend and colleague I have know for more than a decade lost his youngest daughter. The timing was brutally sudden. It was a cruel interruption in the life of an innocent, robbing her and us of the opportunity to experience the smile and laughter that comes with one coming of age.
I do not think anything would have been easier if one had been able to anticipate the event. Evil leaves a trail of broken hearts in its path. Knowing that one is under attach allows us time to prepare. In the end, the cost in either case is beyond measure.
As the news slowly weaved its way into my heart I realized that I was grateful for the lives of two young girls that continue to be a part of my life. I treasure the moments together, their smiles, and laughter. I am also struck by the wonder children bring to the lives of their parents. Two truths continue to provide comfort and assurance.
A smile given always remains with the one who receives. Whatever happens, it cannot be taken away. It cannot be retracted or destroyed. A child laugh, a twinkling eye, and a hug are smiles expressed in action. Each lives on as long as we remember. Each nurtures our hearts and souls in ways that we never imagine.
Behind each smile is the experience of belonging. When we know that we belong in and with God in our hearts, we smile. When we know that we belong in and with others that love us, we smile. In heartache and celebration, when we belong, we smile. One writer described it well in a song titled “Yet I will praise.” Another comment was that “the revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.” (Psalm 19.7) Both remind me that in knowing, we smile.
Today I smile, remembering the gifts, wanting more.
